Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding revision of existing monitoring mechanism to oversee compliance of environmental norm by industries, 23/03/2021

Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Shailesh Singh Vs State of Haryana & Others dated 23/03/2021.

The issue for consideration was revision of existing monitoring mechanism to oversee compliance of environmental norms by the State PCBs, including duration for mandatory inspections of highly polluting 17 category - red, orange and green category industries and policy of auto renewals of Consent to Operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as well as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

The NGT directed the CPCB, SEIAAs and MoEF&CC that frequency norms for inspection must be made part of consent conditions and EC clearances. Further, steps should be taken for strengthening of SPCBs and PCCs and of CPCB. The Tribunal said that this was necessary to achieve the mandate of sustainable development.