Order of the National Green Tribunal (Central Zone Bench, Bhopal) in the matter of Sarla Soni Vs State of Rajasthan & Others dated 25/09/2023.

The main issue involved in the application is consideration and need for regulatory resign to check acetic activities in testing of gold, compliance of guidelines issued by the CPCB, requirement of grant of CTE and the siting criteria.

The NGT, September 25 directed that guidelines issued for gold assaying and hallmarking centres issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, October, 2020 must be complied with. The guidelines issued by the CPCB must be updated and notified by the state of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh within 15 days and compliance duly monitored.

CPCB is directed to reconsider the environmental guidelines no. 5.0 (10) where the siting policy has been let to the local administration and to decide a fresh after considering the views and suggestions taking from all state PCB’s to maintain the uniform policy throughout the nation and to avoid any anomaly and different criteria’s. The same may be decided and formulated and published within a reasonable time, the order said.