SC Directs NEERI To Define Non-Polluting Industries With CPCB Help

The Supreme Court has recently directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to define and classify non-polluting industries with help from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and relevant experts.

NEERI must submit a preliminary report by October 3, 2024, detailing the completion timeline. The case will be reviewed on October 4, 2024.

The Court also tasked the Chief Environmental Consultant (CEC) with evaluating a proposal for a civilian terminal at Agra airport, focusing on whether tree removal can be minimized. A report on this should be submitted by October 14, 2024.

Regarding the Agra-Jalesar-Etah road project in the Taj Trapezium Zone, the Court reiterated that tree felling and translocation will only be permitted if the Uttar Pradesh government undertakes significant compensatory afforestation. The state government has not yet started planting the required 38,740 trees. The Court granted the state time to comply and set the next hearing for October 4, 2024.

Justice Oka criticized the state’s request to fell 3,874 trees when only 2,818 were deemed necessary by the CEC. The Court emphasized that project alignments should be re-examined to reduce tree removal, in line with the Constitutional duty to protect the environment.

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