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Hans India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of environmental degradation of Nagpur's Futala Lake
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the declining condition of Futala Lake in Maharashtra's Nagpur. A bench, headed by judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, registered an original application suo motu (on its own) following a news item titled "Futala Lake's charm fades amid neglect and poor maintenance". Referring to the news article, the Bench, also comprising expert member A. Senthil Vel, noted that the lake, once a popular spot for locals, now faces hygiene issues and environmental degradation due to neglect and poor maintenance. The news item also highlighted that the absence of functional public toilets has led visitors to resort to unhygienic alternatives, and the lake's shore is covered with trash like flower garlands and plastic bags, causing a foul smell. "[D]espite efforts by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to prevent the immersion of idols and religious offerings, enforcement remains weak, resulting in continued pollution,' noted the NGT in its order passed on June 5. The green body said the matter highlighted in the news item attracted the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016. Saying that the power of the NGT to take up the matter suo motu has been recognised by the Supreme Court, the Justice Tyagi-led Bench impleaded the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation as respondent parties to the matter. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit," ordered the green tribunal, transferring the matter for further hearing on August 6 before the Western Zone Bench. It said that since the place of accrual of the cause of action lies within the jurisdiction of the Pune's Western Zone Bench, the case should be further heard there. "Accordingly, the Registry is directed to list the matter before the Western Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Pune on 06.08.2025 after obtaining orders from Hon'ble the Chairperson for transfer of the case, if so required," the NGT ordered. It added that responses may be filed by the authorities before the Western Zone Bench of the green tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT seeks replies over palm tree felling in state
Patna: The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), the state's disaster management department, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others in connection with the widespread felling of palm trees in Bihar, which, it is believed, is contributing to a rise in lightning-related deaths. The NGT's principal bench in New Delhi took suo motu cognisance of a news report titled "Are missing palm trees causing more lightning deaths in Bihar", published in TOI on May 29, 2025. "The news item relates to the large-scale felling of toddy-yielding palm trees, which is stated to have contributed to a rise in lightning-related deaths with over 2,000 lives lost since 2016 in Bihar. According to the article, the widespread cutting of palm trees is directly linked to a sharp increase in lightning-related fatalities. It highlights that dozens of towering palm trees are being felled, leading to more frequent lightning strikes that result in deaths. The article notes that after the ban on toddy tapping due to Bihar's prohibition policy, palm trees lost their economic value and have since been widely cut down. This ecological loss appears to have made rural areas more vulnerable to lightning strikes with the state recording over 2,000 lightning-related deaths since 2016," the principal bench, comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, stated in its order on June 5. The bench further observed, "The news item mentions that according to the Bihar Economic Survey and the disaster management department, lightning strikes claimed 2,446 lives between 2016 and April 2025 with rural population being the worst affected. The article states that the number of lightning deaths began to rise following the rampant felling of palm trees. The Annual Lightning Report 2023-2024 states that lightning strikes claimed as many as 2,937 lives in Bihar between 2014 and 2024. " According to the tribunal's order, the most severely affected districts include Aurangabad, Patna, Nalanda, Kaimur, Rohtas, Bhojpur and Buxar. The highest incidence of lightning-related deaths occurs between 12.30pm and 4.30pm, when many people are outdoors for work. The article also mentioned that the south-central region of Bihar is more prone to lightning strikes than other parts of the state. The order added, "In addition, the Bihar Rashtriya Pasi Sena, a platform representing the Pasi community, which has traditionally been involved in toddy tapping, has found that the area under palm tree cultivation in Bihar has decreased by 40%. The article further notes that the planting of palm trees has almost stopped." Citing the seriousness of the issue, the NGT bench noted, "The matter seems to attract the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Hence, we implead the BSPCB, the CPCB, the additional chief secretary of the state's disaster management department and the regional office of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, as respondents in the matter." The bench directed that, "Replies/responses may be filed by the respondents before the eastern zone bench of this tribunal at Kolkata at least one week before the date of next hearing on Aug 7."
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
NGT notice to CPCB, Bihar authorities over rise in lightning deaths due to felling of palm trees
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others in a matter related to the large-scale felling of palm trees in Bihar which is reportedly causing an increase in lightning-related deaths. The green body was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report on alleged widespread cutting of palm trees that is directly linked to a sharp increase in lightning-related fatalities, with over 2,000 lives lost since 2016 in Bihar. In a June 5 order, a Bench of NGT's judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A. Senthil Vel said, "According to the article, dozens of towering palm trees are being felled, leading to more frequent lightning strikes that result in deaths." According to the report, after the ban on toddy tapping due to Bihar's prohibition policy, palm trees lost their economic value and have since been widely cut down. This ecological loss appeared to have made rural areas more vulnerable to lightning strikes, with the State recording over 2,000 lightning-related deaths since 2016. "The article states that the number of lightning deaths began to rise following the rampant felling of palm trees. The worst-affected districts include Aurangabad, Patna, Nalanda, Kaimur, Rohtas, Bhojpur and Buxar. Most lightning-related deaths occur between 12.30 and 4.30 p.m., when many people are outside for work," the NGT said, citing the report. It further noted that the area under palm tree cultivation in the State had decreased by 40% and that plantation of the trees had almost stopped. "The matter seems to attract the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act," it said. The tribunal impleaded the CPCB, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Bihar Disaster Management Department as parties or respondents. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply," the NGT said, listing the matter for further proceedings on August 7 before the eastern zonal Bench in Kolkata.
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of poor condition of ancient water tank in Hyderabad's Golconda Fort
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the "poor" and deplorable condition of Katora Houz, a historic water tank located inside Hyderabad's Golconda Fort. A bench headed by judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi registered an original application suo motu (on its own) following a news item titled "Neglected Katora Houz in Hyderabad's Golconda Fort Cries for attention". Referring to the news article, the Bench, also comprising expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that the tank, which was once an important source of water, is now full of garbage and has no water left. The news item also pointed out that the area surrounding Katora Houz is facing increasing encroachments, further contributing to the tank's deterioration. "(A)lthough the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) conducted a 10-day cleanup operation in 2025 to remove water hyacinth and debris, the pool has since reverted to being a dumping ground," noted the NGT in its order passed on June 5. The green body said the matter highlighted in the news item attracted the provisions of The Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Saying that the power of the NGT to take up the matter suo motu has been recognised by the Supreme Court, the Justice Tyagi-led Bench impleaded the Telangana State Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the GHMC, and Hyderabad's District Magistrate as respondent parties to the matter. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit," ordered the green tribunal, transferring the matter for further hearing on August 6 before the Southern Zone Bench. It said that since the place of accrual of the cause of action lies within the jurisdiction of Chennai's Southern Zone Bench, the case should be further heard there. "Replies/ responses may be filed by the respondents (authorities) before the Southern Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Chennai at least one week before the date of hearing fixed," the NGT ordered.
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NGT notice to CPCB, Bihar authorities over rise in lightning deaths due to felling of palm trees
New Delhi, The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Central Pollution Control Board and others in a matter related to the large-scale felling of palm trees in Bihar which is reportedly causing an increase in lightning-related deaths. NGT notice to CPCB, Bihar authorities over rise in lightning deaths due to felling of palm trees The green body was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report on alleged widespread cutting of palm trees that is directly linked to a sharp increase in lightning-related fatalities, with over 2,000 lives lost since 2016 in Bihar. In an order dated June 5, a bench of NGT's judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said, "According to the article, dozens of towering palm trees are being felled, leading to more frequent lightning strikes that result in deaths." According to the report, after the ban on toddy tapping due to Bihar's prohibition policy, palm trees lost their economic value and have since been widely cut down. This ecological loss appeared to have made rural areas more vulnerable to lightning strikes, with the state recording over 2,000 lightning-related deaths since 2016. "The article states that the number of lightning deaths began to rise following the rampant felling of palm trees. The worst-affected districts include Aurangabad, Patna, Nalanda, Kaimur, Rohtas, Bhojpur and Buxar. Most lightning-related deaths occur between 12:30 and 4:30 pm, when many people are outside for work," the NGT said, citing the report. It further noted that the area under palm tree cultivation in the state had decreased by 40 per cent and that plantation of the trees had almost stopped. "The matter seems to attract the provisions of the Environment Act," it said. The tribunal impleaded CPCB, Bihar State Pollution Control Board, regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Bihar Disaster Management Department as parties or respondents. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply," the NGT said, listing the matter for further proceedings on August 7 before the eastern zonal bench in Kolkata. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
