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Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Chandigarh pollution control committee issues notices to government bodies to curb air pollution
1 2 Chandigarh: In a first, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), to mitigate air pollution in the city, issued notices to different govt bodies, including the UT engineering department, municipal corporation, Panjab University, and Indian Railways, delineating steps to be taken to curb air pollution. CPCC gave 15 days to the different govt agencies to respond to the notices. Saurabh Kumar, member secretary, CPCC, said, "Chandigarh comes under non-attainment cities because of not meeting prescribed ambient air quality standards, especially in the winter season, and the level of pollutants of particulate matter concentration (PM2.5 & PM10) goes beyond the prescribed standards for ambient air quality. Dust pollution is one of the major sources of air pollution, contributing high levels of PM concentration, i.e. , PM10 & PM2.5." Notices were issued as the whole of the Union Territory of Chandigarh was declared an Air Pollution Control area under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Under Section 17(1) of the Air Act, 1981, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee is to plan a comprehensive programme for the prevention, control, and abatement of air pollution and to secure execution thereof. The Committee is of the view that to tackle the problems of road dust resulting from road construction, re-modeling, repair, unpaved roads, and the open land from where soil is easily blown into the air because of traffic or winds, such activities are required to be monitored and regulated. The govt bodies like the municipal corporation and UT engineering department have been asked to take proactive steps in this direction as the owning/maintaining and road construction agencies have to play a greater role in the effective monitoring and implementation of dust control measures. Meanwhile, the Railways were issued notices as the loading and unloading area under its control in the Daria area of Chandigarh is causing a lot of air pollution in contravention of the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Kumar said, "To curb air pollution, particularly during the winters, collective institutional effort is required." **BOX1: SOME OF THE MEASURES OUTLINED** **UT Engineering Department** - Shall cover the central verge with eco-friendly honeycomb paver blocks or with other aggregates. - Shall explore the possibility of washing roads at night time with tertiary treated wastewater. - Shall also explore the possibility of laying pipelines for the transportation of tertiary water on each main road and sub-road so that a mechanism can be worked out for spraying water at fixed intervals. - Shall use the by-products generated out of the Construction and Demolition Waste Processing Plant as rejects to use on the exposed soil wherever required. - Dust mitigation plan shall be incorporated in all construction projects. - Thick vegetation cover or pebbles, whichever is feasible, on vacant exposed ground. **Addition to Above for Municipal Corporation** - The municipal corporation shall purchase an adequate number of vehicles (preferably e-Vehicles) to cover the entire city to sprinkle water during the morning hours on the roads before manual sweeping. - Shall work out the mechanism for proper collection of fallen leaves and their disposal as it further leads to air pollution. **Railways** - To make arrangements to sweep the entire jurisdiction of the railway, including the loading and unloading area, and shall identify potential dust hotspots and make arrangements for spraying water in all such areas to suppress the dust. - To provide provisions for the washing of wheels of the vehicles entering and exiting from the loading/unloading/weighing area. - To take measures to ensure that there should be no exposed ground in railway premises and cover the exposed soil either with thick vegetation or pebbles, whichever is feasible. - To cover all the loading and unloading areas, including the roads and weighing bridge area, with eco-friendly honeycomb paver blocks or any other suitable material to restrict dust suspension. **BOX2: WINTER AIR POLLUTION** In the past few years, the Chandigarh winters witnessed severe air pollution. At one point in November last year, it was reported to have the worst air quality in the country. On several occasions in the last couple of years, it was among the top three worst air-polluted cities in the country. On average, though, spanning the year-long period, the air quality hovers around moderate air quality. MSID:: 121653902 413 |
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Karnataka pollution control board tightens rules for high-rise projects
BENGALURU : The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has issued a strict directive mandating that before granting plan approval (CC) and occupancy certificate (OC) for multi-storey residential complexes, prior approval and consent from the board must be confirmed. If these clearances are not obtained and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ( BBMP ) still issues CC and OC, the responsibility will rest entirely with the BBMP. Responding to a letter from BBMP seeking clarification, KSPCB's Member Secretary on May 30 outlined the rules requiring prior consent for establishment (CFE) and consent for operation (CFO) from the board before any such approvals can be issued for multi-storey buildings. Since 2015, it has been mandatory for KSPCB to verify compliance with the Water Act, Air Act, and other environmental protection laws before construction begins. This specifically applies to buildings with over 120 flats within the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) limits. According to sources, this rule aims to prevent construction on lake beds, stormwater canals, and sensitive ecological areas. Projects must allocate space for sewage treatment plants (STPs) and waste management units before seeking approval. Seeking KSPCB consent after construction will not be accepted. BBMP has been strongly advised to ensure prior environmental clearance before granting approvals.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PCB shuts down lead recycling unit for violating pollution norms
Hyderabad: The Telangana Pollution Control Board has ordered the immediate closure of Jitin Enterprises, a lead battery recycling facility at Nandigama in Kothur mandal in Rangareddy district, following multiple breaches of environmental regulations under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. A recent inspection by TGPCB officials found that the facility had illegally installed and operated two additional rotary furnaces without obtaining the mandatory consent for establishment or consent for operation. Although Jitin Enterprises holds a valid consent for operation until May 31, 2025, for producing 672 kg/day of lead ingots, the unit was found circumventing critical pollution control protocols, undermining both regulatory compliance and environmental safety. Negligent practices The board's report detailed severe lapses in the handling of hazardous lead waste. The unit failed to register with or send waste to a treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF), as required. Instead, lead slag was stored openly, causing spillage into nearby agricultural land, posing risks to soil, water, and food safety. Other violations included lack of records on hazardous waste generation, storage, and disposal, absence of energy meters on pollution control equipment, failure to install emission stacks for rotary furnaces, non-submission of environmental statements for three consecutive financial years, no evidence of green belt development, environmental monitoring, or water usage tracking and omission of mandatory health check-up reports for workers, due every six months. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O novo dispositivo que os idosos usam para ajudar na neuropatia (dor nos nervos) A arte do herbalismo Undo Task force steps in After reviewing the violations in a recent task force committee meeting, where company representatives were also heard, the board determined that the continued operation of the unit posed a serious threat to public health and the environment. Acting under section 31(A) of the Air Act, the TGPCB issued a 'stop production order,' warning that any attempt to continue operations would invite legal action, including prosecution. The board also directed regional environmental officers to enforce strict compliance with the closure order and monitor the site to prevent further environmental damage.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC sets Sept 30 deadline for filling DPCC vacancies
The Supreme Court on Monday castigated the Delhi government for its failure to fill posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), ordering all 204 vacancies -- of a sanctioned strength of 344 -- to be filled by September 30, 2025. A bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka, while hearing a suo motu contempt petition, observed, 'We cannot tolerate laxity shown by the Delhi government, especially when Delhi is worst affected by air pollution at least for three months.' The court initiated proceedings on May 8 by summoning the Delhi chief secretary after being informed that 55% posts in DPCC lay vacant. Describing the situation as a 'sorry state of affairs', the bench noted that the DPCC—essential for enforcing pollution-control laws—was 'virtually defunct'. Senior advocate Aditya Sondhi, representing the Delhi chief secretary, told the court that 41 posts would be filled by December 31, 2025, with the remainder addressed by March 2026. He explained that each recruitment cycle, from advertisement to examination and appointment, typically spans seven to eight months. The bench, also comprising justice Ujjal Bhuyan, rejected this timeline as unduly protracted. 'We direct all 204 posts be filled by September 30, 2025,' the bench ordered, warning that any failure would constitute 'aggravated contempt'. It also mandated a compliance report by October 15 and excused the chief secretary from personally appearing at the next hearing. Aparajita Singh, assisting as amicus curiae, reminded the bench that pollution control boards are expected to anticipate vacancies and begin recruitment six months in advance. She cited an earlier Supreme Court directive from August 27, 2024, which set an April 30, 2025, deadline for filling vacancies in Delhi-NCR pollution boards—a directive that went largely ignored by the NCR states. The court accepted her suggestion and instructed the Delhi government to detail advanced recruitment plans in its compliance report. At a prior hearing, the court was informed that state pollution boards in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan had 45% vacancies, while Haryana's stood at 35%. 'We find it's a very sorry state of affairs,' the court had remarked. 'With almost 55% posts vacant, the DPCC is non-functional.' The bench underscored the boards' statutory duties under the Environment Protection Act, the Air Act, and the Water Act, emphasising that full staffing is vital for these functions. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also presented nationwide data showing that Bihar and Jharkhand faced vacancy rates as high as 90%, with several states registering more than 60% unfilled posts. The court extended the September deadline to all state boards and directed the CPCB itself to achieve full strength by the end of August 2025.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
HC stays coercive action against Noida condo in STP row
Noida: The Allahabad high court has restrained Noida Authority from taking coercive action against a group housing society in Sector 120 for allegedly discharging untreated sewage into stormwater drains. It was on May 5 that the division bench of Justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Anil Kumar-X restrained the Authority from taking any coercive action against RG Residency. The society had challenged an FIR lodged on the Authority's recommendation on April 8 at the Sector 113 police station, which invoked various sections of the Environment Protection Act, Air Act, and Water Act. "Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, as an interim measure, it is provided that till the next date of listing, respondents are restrained from taking any coercive action against the petitioner pursuant to the impugned FIR," the court stated, directing all respondents to file counter-affidavits within six weeks. The matter was then scheduled for hearing in the second week of July. The legal battle originates from an inspection by the Authority's environment cell on Nov 16 last year, which claimed that the society's sewage treatment plant (STP) wasn't meeting prescribed standards. However, RG Residency's counsel mounted a strong defence, highlighting several procedural irregularities. The society argued that the inspection was conducted without prior notice or the presence of their representatives, and no show-cause notice or sample report was ever shared with them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Queima de estoque: A bolsa mais desejada do mundo agora em oferta imperdível Liquidação de Bolsa Undo A key argument presented was that FIRs under environmental laws could only be initiated through complaints from designated authorities after a mandatory 60-day notice period. The counsel questioned the Authority's legal standing to initiate criminal proceedings under these specialised environmental laws, while also pointing to a 143-day gap between the inspection and the registration of an FIR. The case gains additional significance against the backdrop of the Authority's recent crackdown on environmental violations. Last month, Authority CEO Lokesh M issued a warning about deregistering apartment owners' associations (AOAs) of societies that violated environmental norms. "Societies flouting sewage treatment norms will face not just FIRs but complete deregistration of their AOAs. We will urge the registrar of firms, societies, and chits in Meerut to implement these measures," he had said, linking untreated sewage with persistent foul smell in several sectors, describing it as "a grave environmental concern and an urban hygiene issue". The Authority's recent enforcement drive targeted multiple societies, including RG Residency (Sector 120), Sikka Karmik (Sector 78), Lotus Boulevard (Sector 100), Lotus Panache (Sector 110), Purvanchal Royal Park (Sector 137), Aims Max Gardenia (Sector 75), Prateek Stylome (Sector 45), and Amrapali Silicon City (Sector 76).Few societies were accused of either operating non-functional STPs or bypassing them entirely. The crackdown extended to Maharishi Ashram near Lotus Panache, with the Authority seeking deregistration for both the ashram and Panache through the Meerut registrar's office.
