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Coal mining in Meghalaya
The NGT July 27, 2020, said a remediation plan on illegal coal mining in Meghalaya proposed by a committee must be executed. The quantum of coal unscientifically mined was said to be 2,325,663.54 mega tonnes.
The report recommended the transportation of illegally mined coal should be done by the coal owners. This was rejected by the court.
The state should transport the coal and give locations, it said.
The NGT gave a go-ahead with respect to the plans for restoration of the environment. This included furnishing a detailed cost estimate for preparation of maps that would identify and delineate coal fields as well as each coal mine, shaft and dump.
This was to prevent human and animal deaths in coal mine shafts. The areas covered for such an exercise include West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills and South West Khasi Hills.
Frozen meat unit in Barabanki
The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) in its report to the NGT January 31 said Amroon Foods Pvt Ltd located at Kursi in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district followed all environmental norms.
The report said the unit was engaged in the production of frozen meat and meeting its fresh water requirement from the groundwater through two bore wells.
An electromagnetic flow meter was installed at the borewell and a log book was maintained to monitor fresh water consumption. The average fresh water consumption for November 2019 was 464.2 kilolitres per day (KLD), according to the log book.
The unit had obtained a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for groundwater abstraction for 800 cubic metres per day, valid up to August 30, 2019.
The unit had applied for a renewal of the NOC from the CGWA, which was under process. It also had valid consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The unit generated effluents at 765 KLD, which was treated through its effluent treatment plant (ETP) of 800 KLD capacity.
At the time of inspection, all units of the ETP were found to be operating satisfactorily. The online monitoring system installed at the outlet of the ETP was also found operational.
The treated effluent was used for irrigation in the green belt of the premises and by nearby farmers and the rest of the treated effluent was discharged through a closed hume pipe in the Reth river.
The amount of pollutant in the sample of gaseous emissions was found to be according to the prescribed standards.
The report to the NGT was uploaded on its website July 27.