NGT, National Green Tribunal - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: 50

Explanation:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 10th Aug 2017 imposed an interim ban on use of non-biodegradable plastic bags which are less than 50 microns in the entire national capital.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also announced an environment compensation of INR 5,000 on anyone found in possession of such banned plastic.

The tribunal has also directed the Delhi government to seize the entire stock of plastic within one week from the day of the law's passage.

The bench asked the AAP-ruled city government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to file an affidavit by a senior most officer and inform it how directions with regard to waste management in the city were being implemented particularly in respect to plastics.

The green panel had last year banned the use of disposable plastic in Delhi and NCR with effect from January 1, 2017 and directed the city government to take steps to reduce dumped waste.

The Tribunal had on July 31, slammed the Delhi government over indiscriminate and rampant use of plastic in the national capital despite its prohibition.

The bench had directed the city government to strictly enforce its ban order in the city and sought a status report on the issue.

The NGT had prohibited the use of disposable plastic in the entire city, especially at hotels, restaurants and for public and private functions.

It asked the Delhi government to take appropriate steps against “storage, sale and use” of such material from January 1 this year.

It had also said that an environment compensation of INR 10,000 would be imposed on vegetable vendors and slaughter houses for throwing garbage in public places.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed nationwide blanket ban on the use of kite strings (manja), made of nylon or any synthetic material on the grounds that it poses a threat to animals and humans.

The judgement of Tribunal came on a plea filed by animal rights body People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and others.

The petition filed by PETA and others had contended that ‘manja’ poses a grave threat to humans and animals as a number of deaths are caused by it every year.

It has also alleged that sometimes these strings coated with sharp metals, traps and kill migratory birds.

It also claimed that minor children were engaged by the cottage industry for the manufacture of ‘manja’, which caused respiratory problems as they inhaled harmful substances which were detrimental to their health.

The Tribunal has directed all state governments to prohibit the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use of synthetic manja or nylon threads and all other synthetic strings used for flying kites with immediate effect.

It also ordered the authorities across the country to ban import of any synthetic manja or nylon thread or other similar threads coated with synthetic substances.

About National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• The NGT was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
  It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.
• It also includes enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith.
• It adjudicates matters relating to Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; Forest Conservation Act and Biological Diversity Act.
• The NGT is guided by principles of natural justice and not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
• It is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing.
• New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting NGT. Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are other regional sitting of the Tribunal.

ANSWER: Yamuna

Explanation:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 19 May 2017 banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna.

The tribunal also announced an environment compensation of INR 5000 for those who violated the diktat.

The ban was announced by NGT bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar while hearing a plea on monitoring the implementation of the ‘Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017’.

In addition to this, the bench also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to the cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals.

Besides, the bench also directed the Delhi government and the municipal corporations to immediately take action against industries which operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution to the river.

Earlier on 1 May 21017, the apex green panel had ordered inspection of the STPs at Delhi Gate and Okhla with a view to ensuring that wastewater was cleaned before it reaches the Yamuna.

It had sought a report with regard to the functioning of these plants.

The tribunal was informed that a total of 14 STP projects are to be constructed to clean wastewater. Of these, seven are to be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds.

ANSWER: NGT

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the ‘World Conference on Environment’ organized by the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi today (March 25, 2017).

Recent studies and systematic reviews indicate that environmental factors are responsible for an estimated 24% of the global burden of disease in terms of healthy life years lost and 23 % of all deaths.

Children are the worst sufferers of the adverse impact of environmental diseases. 24% of all deaths under the age of 15 are due to diarrhoea, malaria and respiratory diseases – all of which are environment related.

19% of the deaths caused by Cancer worldwide are attributed to carcinogens that unmindful industrialization produces.

The President complimented the National Green Tribunal – India’s premier environment watch dog for facilitating this forum for wide ranging discussions on environmental issues of universal concern.

National Green Tribunal: Know More

• The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010.
• It was framed under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
• It also works for conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment.
• NGT mandates on giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.

ANSWER: Neutrino observatory, Theni

Explanation:
Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal on 20th March 2017 suspended the environmental clearance granted to the India based Neutrino Observatory to come up in Theni and asked a fresh application for the project proponent.

Madhikettan Shola National Park in Idukki, Kerala is just 4.9 lm from the proposed site.

The TN-Kerala border was just a km away,making this, a category A project.

MoEF had called it a Category B project for which EIA is not necessary, but the department processed it as an additional measure.

Any project falling 5 km from the interstate boundary or within a notified national park or sanctuary to be considered a Category A project.

This requires numerous processes before EC is granted.

The INO promises to bring scientific advancement, according to Sekhar Basu, Chairman of DAE.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
National Green Tribunal has indicated on 10th Nov that when air pollution reaches severe levels, Delhi and neighbouring states will have to take the following measures:

• Sprinkling water from choppers
• Stopping construction activities
• Shutting down polluting power plants and gen-sets
• Passing a host of directions to tackling air pollution in Delhi and neighbouring states, the NGT also asked for the setting up of central and 5 state-level monitoring committee to check implementation of orders and form action plans to check pollution
• When PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels cross 251 and 431 micrograms cubic metre, it is an environment emergent said the NGT chairperson Swantanter Kumar
• The chairperson also said measures would have to be implemented to tackle the situation
• Farmers must be given happy seeders-machines that sow wheat without burning paddy residues
• This is to prevent crop fires.
• During the period of severe air pollution, all construction, transport of construction material and stone crushing activities must be stopped
• States will have to shut down power plants, hot-mixers, brick kilns, diesel generator sets whose emissions are above the prescribed limit, according to an interim order for NGT
• The NGT also asked 4 neighbouring states of Delhi- Haryana, Punjab, UP and Rajasthan- to consider banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years while directing Delhi to ensure strict implementation of orders on diesel vehicles.
• Tribunal also asked Delhi government why they did not install air filters in schools for children as instructed

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
A complete ban has been placed on the use of plastic of any kind from Gomukhi to Haridwar along the Ganga river w.e.f February 1st according to the NGT while a penalty of INR 5000 has been imposed on hotels, dharamshalas and ashrams which violate the order. The green panel also divided the cleaning campaign of the river into different segments namely Gomukhi to Haridwar, Haridwar to Kanpur, Kanpur to border of Uttar Pradesh, border of Uttar Pradesh to border of Jharkhand and border of Jharkhand to Bay of Bengal. Apart from plastic ban, NGT has also prohibited the throwing of municipal, construction and demolition waste into the river. The bench also said that seriously polluting industries operating without the consent of the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board shall be closed with immediate effect.

ANSWER: Lakhwar

Explanation:
NGT sought Union Government response on plea challenging the construction of the 300 MW Lakhwar multi-purpose project being built by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL).

NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar headed the bench which issued a notice to Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Water Resources and UJVNL. The notice was issued on a plea of members of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan. As per the plea, the Lakhwar project, which was part of the composite Lakhwar-Vyasi project, did not get any Environment Clearance (EC) from the Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC). It was further argued that no evaluation of the project in terms of its environmental costs and impacts, as required under the EIA Notification.

This HEP was developed as part of the composite project known as Lakhwar Vyasi project. The two projects were separated in 2007. Lakhwar Project was not given any EC by the EAC as it did not satisfied the EIA notification. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh will benefit from the drinking water and water for irrigation produced by the Lakhwar project.

ANSWER: Haridwar & Rishikesh

Explanation:
It also fixed a penalty of 5000 rupees on anyone found violating the order. The penalty will be charged as compensation for degradation of environment.

ANSWER: National Green Tribunal

Explanation:
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that these units have even not cared to take the steps to install rainwater harvesting systems even after several reminders. The green panel imposed a fine of 7.50 lakh rupees each on Jaypee Siddharth, Piccadily Hotel while Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd was imposed 5 lakh rupees as fine. The Tribunal also imposed a fine of 5 lakh rupees each on hospitals B M Gupta Hospital Pvt Ltd, Indraprastha Medical Corporation Ltd Santom Hospital, and Jaipur Golden Hospital while Holy Family hospital was imposed 3 lakh rupees.