Ganga, NGT - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: 50

Explanation:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 10th Aug 2017 imposed an interim ban on use of non-biodegradable plastic bags which are less than 50 microns in the entire national capital.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also announced an environment compensation of INR 5,000 on anyone found in possession of such banned plastic.

The tribunal has also directed the Delhi government to seize the entire stock of plastic within one week from the day of the law's passage.

The bench asked the AAP-ruled city government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to file an affidavit by a senior most officer and inform it how directions with regard to waste management in the city were being implemented particularly in respect to plastics.

The green panel had last year banned the use of disposable plastic in Delhi and NCR with effect from January 1, 2017 and directed the city government to take steps to reduce dumped waste.

The Tribunal had on July 31, slammed the Delhi government over indiscriminate and rampant use of plastic in the national capital despite its prohibition.

The bench had directed the city government to strictly enforce its ban order in the city and sought a status report on the issue.

The NGT had prohibited the use of disposable plastic in the entire city, especially at hotels, restaurants and for public and private functions.

It asked the Delhi government to take appropriate steps against “storage, sale and use” of such material from January 1 this year.

It had also said that an environment compensation of INR 10,000 would be imposed on vegetable vendors and slaughter houses for throwing garbage in public places.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed nationwide blanket ban on the use of kite strings (manja), made of nylon or any synthetic material on the grounds that it poses a threat to animals and humans.

The judgement of Tribunal came on a plea filed by animal rights body People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and others.

The petition filed by PETA and others had contended that ‘manja’ poses a grave threat to humans and animals as a number of deaths are caused by it every year.

It has also alleged that sometimes these strings coated with sharp metals, traps and kill migratory birds.

It also claimed that minor children were engaged by the cottage industry for the manufacture of ‘manja’, which caused respiratory problems as they inhaled harmful substances which were detrimental to their health.

The Tribunal has directed all state governments to prohibit the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use of synthetic manja or nylon threads and all other synthetic strings used for flying kites with immediate effect.

It also ordered the authorities across the country to ban import of any synthetic manja or nylon thread or other similar threads coated with synthetic substances.

About National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• The NGT was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
  It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.
• It also includes enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith.
• It adjudicates matters relating to Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; Forest Conservation Act and Biological Diversity Act.
• The NGT is guided by principles of natural justice and not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
• It is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing.
• New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting NGT. Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are other regional sitting of the Tribunal.

ANSWER: Yamuna

Explanation:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 19 May 2017 banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna.

The tribunal also announced an environment compensation of INR 5000 for those who violated the diktat.

The ban was announced by NGT bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar while hearing a plea on monitoring the implementation of the ‘Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017’.

In addition to this, the bench also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to the cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals.

Besides, the bench also directed the Delhi government and the municipal corporations to immediately take action against industries which operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution to the river.

Earlier on 1 May 21017, the apex green panel had ordered inspection of the STPs at Delhi Gate and Okhla with a view to ensuring that wastewater was cleaned before it reaches the Yamuna.

It had sought a report with regard to the functioning of these plants.

The tribunal was informed that a total of 14 STP projects are to be constructed to clean wastewater. Of these, seven are to be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds.

ANSWER: NGT

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the ‘World Conference on Environment’ organized by the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi today (March 25, 2017).

Recent studies and systematic reviews indicate that environmental factors are responsible for an estimated 24% of the global burden of disease in terms of healthy life years lost and 23 % of all deaths.

Children are the worst sufferers of the adverse impact of environmental diseases. 24% of all deaths under the age of 15 are due to diarrhoea, malaria and respiratory diseases – all of which are environment related.

19% of the deaths caused by Cancer worldwide are attributed to carcinogens that unmindful industrialization produces.

The President complimented the National Green Tribunal – India’s premier environment watch dog for facilitating this forum for wide ranging discussions on environmental issues of universal concern.

National Green Tribunal: Know More

• The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010.
• It was framed under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
• It also works for conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment.
• NGT mandates on giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.

ANSWER: Neutrino observatory, Theni

Explanation:
Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal on 20th March 2017 suspended the environmental clearance granted to the India based Neutrino Observatory to come up in Theni and asked a fresh application for the project proponent.

Madhikettan Shola National Park in Idukki, Kerala is just 4.9 lm from the proposed site.

The TN-Kerala border was just a km away,making this, a category A project.

MoEF had called it a Category B project for which EIA is not necessary, but the department processed it as an additional measure.

Any project falling 5 km from the interstate boundary or within a notified national park or sanctuary to be considered a Category A project.

This requires numerous processes before EC is granted.

The INO promises to bring scientific advancement, according to Sekhar Basu, Chairman of DAE.

ANSWER: NGT

Explanation:

• The National Green Tribunal imposed an interim nationwide ban on use of glass-coated ‘manja’ for flying kites as the sharp string poses a danger to humans, animals and birds.
• A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar passed the order after noting that ‘manja’, string coated with glass and metal powder and used for flying kites, poses a threat to the environment.
• The green panel said that the ban order would apply on nylon, Chinese and cotton manja coated with glass.
• It directed Manja Association of India to submit report to Central Pollution Control Board on harmful effects of kite strings.
• November 2015 order of the Allahabad High Court banned the use of Chinese manja in entire Uttar Pradesh.
• Also ‘manja’ posed a huge threat when it came into contact with live overhead electric wires, leading to grid failure.
• Due to ‘manja’ being coated with glass, metals and other sharp material, these strings act as good conductors of electricity, increasing the probability of detached manja strings stuck in power lines, electrocuting kite flyers and passers-by coming into contact with these strings.
• PETA also said that minor children were engaged by the cottage industry for the manufacture of ‘manja’ which caused respiratory problems as they inhaled harmful substances which were extremely detrimental to their health.

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Government of India has approved new projects at cost of INR 370 crores for the ongoing Ganga rejuvenation programme in Haridwar and Varanasi.

The Centre also decided to include six more towns/ cities under the surface cleaning exercise of the river using trash skimmers.

Surface cleaning of the river Ganga in the cities - Rishikesh, Haridwar, Garh Mukhteshwar, Sahibganj, Kolkata and Navdweep - will begin in Jan 2017.

Urban local bodies will be the nodal agency to monitor this work, approved by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

The number of cities to be covered under the river surface cleaning plan has now reached 12.

The 'Namami Gange' programme was launched as a mission to achieve the target of cleaning river Ganga in an effective manner by involving all stakeholders, especially five major Ganga basin states i.e. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal.

The programme envisages river surface cleaning, STP infrastructure, river front development, bio-diversity, afforestation and public awareness. The new projects, approved by the NMCG for Haridwar, include setting up 68 million litres per day (MLD) sewage treatment plant (STP) in Jagjeetpur and 14 MLD STP in Sarai at an indicative cost of INR 110.30 crore and INR 25 crore, respectively, under Hybrid Annuity based PPP mode.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
National Green Tribunal has indicated on 10th Nov that when air pollution reaches severe levels, Delhi and neighbouring states will have to take the following measures:

• Sprinkling water from choppers
• Stopping construction activities
• Shutting down polluting power plants and gen-sets
• Passing a host of directions to tackling air pollution in Delhi and neighbouring states, the NGT also asked for the setting up of central and 5 state-level monitoring committee to check implementation of orders and form action plans to check pollution
• When PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels cross 251 and 431 micrograms cubic metre, it is an environment emergent said the NGT chairperson Swantanter Kumar
• The chairperson also said measures would have to be implemented to tackle the situation
• Farmers must be given happy seeders-machines that sow wheat without burning paddy residues
• This is to prevent crop fires.
• During the period of severe air pollution, all construction, transport of construction material and stone crushing activities must be stopped
• States will have to shut down power plants, hot-mixers, brick kilns, diesel generator sets whose emissions are above the prescribed limit, according to an interim order for NGT
• The NGT also asked 4 neighbouring states of Delhi- Haryana, Punjab, UP and Rajasthan- to consider banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years while directing Delhi to ensure strict implementation of orders on diesel vehicles.
• Tribunal also asked Delhi government why they did not install air filters in schools for children as instructed

ANSWER: National Ganga River Basin Authority

Explanation:
Providing a major boost to Ganga rejuvenation efforts, National Ganga River Basin Authority has approved projects worth Rs 2446 crore for development of 'ghats' and crematoriums at various places along the river in four states and along its tributary Yamuna in Delhi.

• The projects will be implemented along the river stretch from Haridwar to Uttarakhand border, Garhmukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh, Buxar, Hajipur and Sonepur in Bihar, Sahibganj, Rajmahal and Kanhaiya 'ghat' in Jharkhand.
• The project is also meant for afforestation along the banks of river Ganga. However, additional fund of Rs 2294 crore for afforestation under 'Forestry Intervention in River Ganga' scheme of the Centre will be approved later.

ANSWER: Black-necked crane

Explanation:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has suspended the Union Environment Ministry’s clearance for the Tawang hydro power project granted in 2012.
• The clearance, the court noted, didn’t consider the impact of the hydro project on the habitat of the black-necked crane, a species that breeds on the Tibetan plateau and migrates to Tawang for the winter. The bird, most commonly found in China, is legally protected in Bhutan and India and is considered sacred to certain Buddhist traditions.
• The black-necked crane is rated as ‘vulnerable’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of endangered species and is listed in India’s Wildlife Act as a Schedule 1 species, which gives animals and birds the highest legal protection.
• Other species that are found in the region include the red panda, the snow leopard and the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala, a recently-described primate species in the area.
• The project is planned on the Nyamjang Chhu river and is the largest of 13 hydro power projects to be built in the Tawang basin. With the NGT’s order, project developers will need to revisit their environmental clearance process.