How National Green Tribunal is stealing environment ministry's thunder

The BJP government has been termed as "anti-environment", primarily because of several decisions taken by them to ease norms for corporates for large developmental projects. Unfortunately, none of the leaders have even acknowledged the fact that India's environmental condition is going abysmal. Thirteen out of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India and Delhi is the most polluted city in the world, according to the World Health Organisation.

A recent investigative series "Death by Breath" by the Indian Express summoned national attention to the severe pollution levels in Delhi. However, Union minister for environment, Prakash Javadekar, blamed "vested interests" for raising the issue of Delhi's poor air quality at this time and suggested these were linked to "forces that do not want India to progress" and against which the government would "take action". He further added that "Delhi's air quality has deteriorated in the last ten months only? It's a problem that was existing for the last ten years. Nobody bothered to ask, raise the question in ten years. No media, no members, no other NGOs raised the issue of Delhi air quality."

Though the BJP government has been reluctant to pursue environmental causes, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been quite ruthless and acted as an environmental champion issuing various orders to curb pollution in the NCR region. Here is a list of five orders given by the NGT:

1. Ban on throwing waste in Hindon Canal: NGT has banned throwing of all kinds of waste into the Hindon canal. The direction was issued following a petition filed by a Vasundhara Enclave resident which alleged municipal waste, construction waste and building debris were also dumped into the canal resulting in huge water and air pollution. The next hearing in this matter has been scheduled on May 25.

2. Ban on diesel vehicles in Delhi: Owing to the raging debate about the contribution of diesel vehicles to pollution in Delhi, NGT banned diesel vehicles over ten years old from plying on Delhi roads. It quoted the examples of countries like Denmark, Brazil, China and Sri Lanka, which are in the process of banning diesel vehicles. Based on a request by the government to seek more time for phasing out the vehicles, NGT has extended the stay on the ban till May 18.

3. Fine on burning open waste: A complete ban has been imposed on burning of waste in open, including garbage, leaves, plastic and crop residues. Violators will be fined Rs 5,000. NGT also directed civic authorities and state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to urgently spread mass awareness regarding the ill-effects of burning waste materials in open areas. The order stated that for every incident of burning of such material, the person who is actually found burning or responsible for burning would be liable to pay compensation in terms of Section 15 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 under the principle of 'polluter pays'.

4. Halt on construction activity in Noida: An immediate stoppage on construction activity in specific stretch of areas in Noida Extension and Gurgaon has been ordered, owing to media reports on air pollution caused by building activities. The areas identified are the two-km stretch from NH-24 to Char Murti Chowk in Noida Extension and Golf Course, Gurgaon. For any construction to happen, the environment ministry's Environment Impact Assessment Guidance Manual for Building, Construction, Townships and Area Development Project has to be followed strictly.

5. Curbs on usage of plastic: Based on a petition filed by Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society, an NGO, NGT seeks to restrict the use of plastic bottles and multi-layered/plastic packages/pet bottles by imposing a ban on packaging of carbonated soft drinks and to phase out the use of plastic polythene for all other non-essential items. In a March 13 order, NGT mentioned, "Prima facie, we are of the view that there has to be a restriction placed upon such packaging and generation of municipal plastic waste. However, before we pass any order, we consider it appropriate that all the stake holders should also be heard." The next hearing is scheduled on May 7, 2015.