NGT imposes cost of Rs 25,000 on environment ministry, slams CPCB for diverting funds
New Delhi, Dec 19: The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change for filing a "vague and irrelevant reply" on a matter regarding the psychological aspect of air pollution.
The green panel also slammed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for diverting the environmental compensation deposited with it for "unauthorised purposes", saying it was "a gross misuse and serious financial irregularity".
Earlier, the tribunal had issued a notice to the ministry, CPCB and three others, saying, "Adequate measures are required for control of such air polluting components and their adverse effect on various organs of the human body, especially those which are affecting the brain and emotional, psychological aspect."
Noting that replies were filed only by the CPCB and the ministry, a bench of National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said the ministry's counsel had admitted that its reply was "not clear" regarding the effective steps taken by it.
The bench said despite repeated queries, the advocate for the ministry could not mention even a single step taken for effective control of air pollution.
"For filing such a vague and irrelevant reply, we impose a cost of Rs 25,000 upon Respondent No 1 (ministry) and direct it to file a supplementary reply giving details of all steps taken for effective monitoring and control of air pollution within one month," the bench said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the CPCB's reply, the tribunal said despite admitting the presence of "several metals" in the air causing pollution and notifying the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the board did not take "any effective steps" for preventing and controlling air pollution.
"From the reply, we also find that the amount of environmental compensation deposited with CPCB is being diverted for unauthorised purposes," it said.
The tribunal noted the reply, which stated that the CPCB was funding the urban local bodies of the National Capital Region (NCR) for the construction or repair of roads and for mechanical road sweepers under Environment Protection Charge funds.
Similar funds were made available to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and other local bodies without assigning specific reasons for it, it said.
"We find it appropriate to require the CPCB to give complete details of the entire amount of environmental compensation lying deposited with it and shall also give manner in which any amount out of above fund has been spent or utilised till November 30, 2023," the tribunal said.
Underscoring that road construction or repair was the statutory responsibility of local bodies, the green body slammed the board, saying diverting funds for unauthorised activities is "a gross misuse and serious financial irregularity."
"We intend to issue direction for recovery of the same from the officer(s) concerned of the CPCB who has/have sanctioned or diverted said funds for unauthorised purposes," the tribunal said.
Allowing a month's time for the CPCB to file a reply, the panel asked the board to "ensure that the amount deposited under environmental compensation is neither diverted nor there is any financial irregularity as it amounts to misappropriation of funds".
"In the garb of protection of environment, remediation and rejuvenation, the activities which are not directly or indirectly connected with the same but statutory duties of some other statutory bodies should not be undertaken by CPCB," the tribunal said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Over 350 illegal religious structures removed along Nepal border
Lucknow, May 11 (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday said that more than 350 unauthorised religious sites, including madrasas, mosques, mazars and Eidgahs, have been identified and subjected to sealing or demolition in recent days, an official statement issued here said.
Acting on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's clear directive that no religious encroachment will be tolerated, the administration in districts such as Pilibhit, Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich, Siddharthnagar and Maharajganj has launched a sweeping campaign, it said.
The authorities have systematically identified illegal structures and taken strict action, continuing operations even on Sunday.
The chief minister has made it clear that encroachment in the name of any religion will not be allowed and all violators, especially those running unrecognised religious institutions, will face legal consequences, the statement said.
On May 10 and 11, 104 madrasas, one mosque, five mazars and two Eidgahs built illegally on public and private land were identified in Shravasti. All were issued notices and sealed, it said.
One illegal madrasa on public land was demolished and two unrecognized madrasas on private land were sealed, the statement added.
In Bahraich, officials identified 13 madrasas, eight mosques, two mazars and one Eidgah illegally constructed on government land.
After issuing notices, five were sealed and 11 were demolished, including eight madrasas, two mosques and one mazar, the statement said.
In Siddharthnagar, the authorities identified four mosques and 18 madrasas and one more madrasa for illegal construction. Notices were issued to these structures. Five madrasas were sealed and nine were demolished. In total, action was taken against 23 illegal structures in the district, it said.
In Maharajganj’s Nautanwa tehsil, Parsamalik village, an unrecognized madrasa operating on Maktab land was shut down based on a report submitted by the District Minority Welfare Officer.
The building’s keys were handed over to the local police station in-charge. So far, 29 madrasas and five mazars constructed through encroachment on public and private land have been demolished in the district.
In past two days in Lakhimpur Kheri, two mosques, one Eidgah on public land along with eight madrasas on private land were found to be illegally constructed.
Of the 13 structures identified, one was served a notice, nine were sealed and three have been demolished so far, the statement said.
The district authorities in Pilibhit have identified an illegal mosque built on public land in Bharatpur village, covering an area of 0.0310 hectares.
According to the district magistrate, a notice has been issued to the parties involved, seeking a response within 15 days. Action against the illegal construction will be taken after the notice period ends, it said.
On Sunday, an under-construction madrasa on public land in Virpur Semra village, Tulsipur tehsil, was demolished in Balrampur. So far, 30 madrasas, 10 mazars and one Eidgah have been demolished in the district.
Ten of them were built illegally on public land, while 20 were constructed without authorization on private land, the statement said.
