Latest news with #EnvironmentProtectionAct
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Pile of dangerous rubbish dumped in a Welsh car park
Pile of dangerous rubbish dumped in a Welsh car park A man has been fined, after pleading guilty to two offences under the Environment Protection Act The hazardous materials were dumped near a public area (Image: Ceredigion Council ) A builder who carelessly dumped hazardous asbestos waste near a public area has been fined following a hearing at Aberystwyth Justice Centre. Ashley Ciminera, 37, had been carrying out roof replacement work at warehouse in Cardigan in June 2023, the hearing heard. The Ceredigion local later discarded broken asbestos roofing sheets from the Teifi Warehouse on Morgan Street, Cardigan, in a nearby public car park. During the process of removing the sheets, pieces of the material also fell onto cars parked below, causing damage. The debris, which included shattered corrugated asbestos roofing, was left uncontained and close to a pavement. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here Asbestos, when damaged or improperly handled, can release microscopic fibres into the air. These fibres are known to lodge deep in the lungs and are linked to serious illnesses, including asbestosis and cancer. The pile of rubbish contained asbestos - infamously linked to serious illnesses, including asbestosis and cancer (Image: Ceredigion Council ) Regulations require asbestos to be removed intact, double-wrapped in heavy duty plastic and securely disposed of to prevent exposure. Article continues below Ciminera failed to follow these rules. Fragments of the hazardous material fell during removal, and instead of containing and safely disposing the debris, he left it in an open area accessible to the public. At a hearing on April 29, he pleaded guilty to two offences under the Environment Protection Act 1990; depositing controlled waste without a permit and treating waste in a way likely to cause pollution or harm to human health. Following this, on May 14, Ciminera was fined £200 for each offence. He was also ordered to pay a £160 victim subcharge and £150 in prosecution costs, totalling £710. The court acknowledged his poor health and that his building and roofing business had been dissolved in late 2023. Ceredigion County Council has strongly criticised the incident. Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member responsible for Public Protection, said: "I am appalled by the brazen disregard shown to the general public by this offender. This case shows that anyone found mishandling hazardous waste will face strict penalties. Article continues below "This prosecution serves as a clear warning to all individuals and organisations that the careless or deliberate mismanagement of dangerous materials will not be tolerated. "We remain committed to enforcing environmental regulations to protect public health and the environment."
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Will speed up shoreline protection work at Chellanam, collector tells Kerala HC
Kochi: The Ernakulam district collector has informed high court that although ongoing adverse climatic conditions have hampered the progress of shoreline protection work at Chellanam, efforts will be made to expedite the work by deploying additional manpower. The submission was made in a report filed in response to a petition filed by T A Dalfine of Chellanam and two other residents seeking protection measures for the coastal area, which remains vulnerable to sea inundation. The report noted that the shoreline protection work, involving the use of sand-filled geo bags, is being undertaken on a war footing. The court recorded the assurance given by the collector and adjourned the matter to June 26. It further observed that the petitioners may submit any suggestions concerning the shore protection work in writing to the collector. Earlier, HC had directed the collector to convene a meeting of the stakeholders and submit a report. In that report, one suggestion was to deposit sand dredged by the Cochin Port Authority in the affected area. However, the standing counsel for the Cochin Port Trust submitted that under the permission granted pursuant to the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Authority is required to deposit the dredged sand in a specifically designated area in the sea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo It was submitted that depositing the sand elsewhere, including in the affected area, would amount to a modification of the environmental clearance, which is not permissible. Therefore, such an action cannot be directed, even as a temporary measure.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala HC defers negotiation initiated by State with MSC on compensation for damage due to sinking of container ship
The Kerala High Court on Thursday deferred the negotiation process initiated by the State government with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) on the compensation for the damage caused by the sinking of the firm's container ship MSC Elsa 3 off the Kerala coast on May 25. The interim order was passed on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by T.N. Prathapan, former MP and the chairperson of Kerala Fishermen Coordination Committee, and others seeking a directive to the Union and State governments, among others, to release interim financial assistance to fishers and others affected by the ship's sinking and subsequent environmental concerns. High-level panel The other demands included constitution of a high-level expert committee to assess the damage caused to the marine environment and the coast, directive to the Indian Coast Guard, State government and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to clear all waste, debris and chemicals from the ship and to clean up the marine environment. While taking note of the affidavit filed by the State government informing that a committee had been formed to determine the compensation for the damage caused by the sinking, restoration of the coastal and marine environment, removal of wreckage and the economic losses caused to the fishers, the court questioned whether the out-of-court negotiations, particularly when a legal course of action under the Admiralty Act is still open, would result in a binding agreement. It further questioned whether it could have transparency, the extent of the damage assessed, and also whether the court's jurisdiction would be affected. Once the State has proposed to move the court, it would be appropriate that the avenue of negotiation is deferred. On its part, the State government said the Special Secretary (Department of Environment) was appointed as the Principal Impact Assessment Officer and that it has been decided to take steps under the Environment Protection Act. Meeting convened In addition, the Minister for Fisheries convened a meeting with all stakeholders, and the Fisheries department has forwarded the loss assessment report to the Special Secretary. Moreover, the Director General of Shipping has directed the State to submit an interim claim. The State also said that it has decided to file an admiralty suit against the company, including the arrest of a sister vessel of MSC.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
GPCB files FIR for 70 tonnes of plastics dumped in Halol
Vadodara: Some factories manufacturing plastic bags in Halol, which have faced raids since Jan, seem to have dumped material in the open at villages in Halol taluka. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) registered an offence for two instances of such dumping in the district. The Halol municipality, Panchmahal district administration and GPCB have conducted several joint raids in Halol on units manufacturing single-use plastics, which is prohibited under the law. A large quantity of material was seized during these raids, and it emerged that some units, which were closed on paper, were still manufacturing plastic bags. The dumping of such bags in the open has now been brought to the notice of GPCB. On Saturday, the regional officer of the Panchmahal GPCB, Dr Pradeep Dave, received a call from Piyush Baria, the sarpanch of Amrapuri village in Halol taluka. Baria told Dave about a vast amount of plastic bags dumped near the village. Dave formed a team and visited the site on Sunday. On his way, Dave saw a large quantity of plastic bags also dumped near Sonipur village. The FIR filed at Halol rural police station states that when the team spoke to a villager, Ganpatgiri Nayak, he told them that the material had been dumped at the site by one Anwar Pathan, a resident of Mahudipura in Waghodia taluka of Vadodara. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How to Find Gas Detectors for Various Needs in Belgium (Learn More) Gas Detectors | Search Ads Undo Nayak told the team that the material had been dumped there four months ago. He also said that Pathan was told to take the material away but did not do so. The team found about 40 metric tonnes (MT) of plastic dumped at Sonipur village. At Amrapuri village, for which Dave had received a call, about 30 MT of plastic bags were found dumped in the open by unknown persons. Dave's complaint states that plastic waste must be disposed of in a scientific manner at a facility approved by GPCB. The FIR was registered on Sunday evening under Sections 280, 286, 287 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 7, 8 and 15 (1) of the Environment Protection Act.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana orders probe into village-govt-mining mafia nexus in Nuh
The Haryana government has ordered the State Vigilance Department to probe allegations of criminal collusion between the sarpanch of Basai Meo village, certain government officials, and powerful mining cartels operating in the Aravalli belt of Nuh district. To be sure, the sarpanch was previously suspended for attempting to revive an illegal mining route demolished by the district administration. The department has been given a deadline of 90 days to complete its investigation and submit a report to the state government, officials said. The findings will be shared with both the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) recently filed a case in which seven people, including government officials and village-level leaders, were booked under sections 61 (criminal conspiracy), 329(3) (criminal trespass), 318(2) (cheating), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 303 (theft), and 270 (public nuisance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Provisions of the Punjab Land and Preservation Act (Amendment), the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Section 15(1) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, have also been invoked. The probe follows recent enforcement action in Basai Meo, where police arrested one person and booked another for attempting to revive an illegal mining route demolished earlier by the district administration. Past CEC reports have led to the suspension of six mining officials and the sarpanch of Basai Meo over similar allegations. Villages like Basai Meo, Chittaura, Ghata Shamshad, and Rawa have been repeatedly identified as hot spots for illegal mining, where criminals use dynamite to blast through the Aravallis, extract stone illegally, and transport it via overloaded trucks. Environmentalists welcomed the move. 'For years, we have seen unchecked destruction in the name of development, often backed by invisible hands in power. This probe must go beyond symbolism and lead to real accountability,' said Vaishali Rana, a Gurugram-based environmentalist.
