#Environmental Law

The Uttarakhand High Court set aside Pollution Control Board notices demanding environmental compensation because the Board failed to give the affected party notice and a hearing, breaching Rule 46 and natural-justice principles. The decision mandates that any authority must follow due-process before imposing compensation liabilities, impacting polluters and other parties facing PCB compensation claims.

The Supreme Court ordered the Ministry of Environment to issue binding guidelines on environmental compensation under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The ruling gives statutory force to the Central Implementation Committee and entrenches the polluter-pays principle for waste-generating parties.

The National Green Tribunal ordered the state to eliminate the remaining 72 illegal structures on the Bhoj wetland, officially demarcate its protected area and stop untreated discharges. This compels all government agencies to enforce the wetland rules, safeguarding the ecosystem and ensuring compliance by local residents and developers.

The National Green Tribunal invoked suo motu jurisdiction to order an inquiry into the illegal felling of thousands of trees in the Ratapani Tiger Reserve, including teak and saag. State agencies, including the Revenue Department and Forest authorities, have been directed to submit replies within six weeks, with impleadment of key officials mandated.

National Green Tribunal’s Central Zone Bench directs Indore Municipal Corporation to enforce a 29-point action plan under CPHEEO guidelines to address municipal water contamination in Indore, mandating pipeline replacement, GIS mapping, and third-party audits. The order follows a cholera outbreak linked to contaminated domestic water supply, emphasizing systemic infrastructure compliance and public health safeguards.

National Green Tribunal, Western Zone Bench, Pune upheld joint CRZ and environmental clearance for Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust's container berth widening project. The ruling emphasizes strict compliance with mitigation measures and safeguards for marine ecology, setting a precedent for port expansion under CRZ norms.

The Bombay High Court permitted diversion of 94.68 hectares of forest land for a 132 KV transmission line but imposed strict conditions including compensatory afforestation, annual compliance reports for a decade, and ecological monitoring. The ruling balances public infrastructure needs with environmental safeguards under the Forest Conservation Act.

Bombay HC permits felling of 8.2188 hectares of mangroves for a 132KV transmission line subject to strict 10-year compliance monitoring and annual status reports. The ruling balances public infrastructure needs with environmental protection under the Forest Conservation Act.

National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone directs Mancherial Municipal Corporation to convert the Andalamma Colony dump site into a scientifically managed waste processing facility under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The order addresses persistent fire hazards and public nuisance from unscientific waste disposal, mandating compliance with statutory processing standards.

National Green Tribunal Southern Zone reinstated a jaggery unit's Consent to Operate after verifying compliance with Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act land-use norms and TNPCB environmental safeguards. The ruling underscores strict scrutiny of unauthorized industrial activity on agricultural land despite pending land classification.

NGT Pune Bench quashed environmental clearance granted to M/s Deepak Chem Tech Limited for concealing interlinked linear infrastructure and project splitting in a 90 MW coal captive power plant. The ruling underscores the mandatory disclosure of interdependent projects and linear structures in EIA Form 1, setting a precedent for stricter compliance in industrial clearances.

Bombay High Court ruled that the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) cannot restrict tiger corridor identification solely to NTCA's 2014 report and DSS, ignoring six statutory parameters under the Wildlife Protection Act. The judgment reinforces statutory compliance in wildlife conservation, impacting tiger habitat protection and administrative law.

Supreme Court rules that the State's statutory authority under Section 15(3) of the MMDR Act to revise royalty rates prevails over silence in mining lease deeds. The judgment reinforces that statutory provisions override contractual gaps, ensuring compliance with Rules of Business for minor minerals.

NGT Western Zone Bench validates Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority's permission for bund strengthening in CRZ-IA areas, subject to strict eco-friendly conditions like mangrove replantation and solar lighting. The ruling reinforces regulatory compliance while balancing infrastructure development with environmental conservation under the CRZ Notification.

The National Green Tribunal has directed strict enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026, holding District Collectors personally accountable for implementation. Non-compliance will attract penalties, and CSR funds must be utilized for waste-to-energy projects to curb environmental violations.