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.
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Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
