Disposed

Bheekambar Singh vs

NGT5 Jul 2024Original Application No. 421/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, disposed of an application concerning violations of environmental norms by a brick kiln in Aligarh. The Tribunal directed the recovery of environmental compensation and mandated the closure of the kiln until statutory compliance is achieved.

What did the court decide?

Direct recovery of environmental compensation from the brick kiln proponent; mandate that the brick kiln remain closed until statutory compliance is achieved; utilize funds for environmental restorati

Bheekambar Singh vs — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2024)

¶1

Item No. 07

¶2

Court No. 2

¶3

BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

¶4

Original Application No. 421/2023

¶5

Bheekambar Singh Applicant Versus State of U.P. Respondent

¶6

Date of hearing: 05.07.2024

¶7

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER

¶8

Applicant(s) None Respondent(s) Mr. Daleep Dhyani, Advocate for UPPCB (through VC)

¶9

ORDER

¶10

The Original Application was registered in exercise of suo-moto jurisdiction on a letter petition dated 11.03.2023, sent by Bheekambar Singh R/o Gorai, Tehsil Iglas, District Aligarh.

¶11

Complainant said that M/s Rewati Balram Brick Kiln is being run at Tamosiya, Gorai road, Beswa, Aligarh in violation of environmental norms; Project proponent i.e., concerned brick kiln is digging soil without permission and without payment of royalty; and consent to Operate (hereinafter referred to as ‘ CTO ’) obtained from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (hereinafter referred to as ‘ UPPCB ’) has already expired and despite that brick kiln is running and violating Statutory Provisions and environmental norms causing air pollution and health hazardous to

¶12

local people.

¶13

¶14

Taking cognizance on 31.07.2023 this Tribunal was prima-facie satisfied that a substantial question relating to environment has arisen out of implementation of enactments specified in Schedule-I to National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as ‘ NGT Act, 2010’ ). Hence, for obtaining Factual Report it constituted a Joint Committee comprising UPPCB and District Magistrate, Aligarh.

¶15

Pursuant to the order dated 31.07.2023 Joint Committee submitted report dated 01.09.2023, stating that brick kiln has capacity of twenty thousand bricks per day; at the time of inspection it was not found operating; the brick kiln is following natural draft method for its functioning; for maintenance of flue gases platform and porthole are not as per standards; brick kiln was established in 2005; consent was granted vide letter dated 25.11.2005 by UPPCB and at the time of inspection seven lacks bricks were found in trench of brick kiln and ten lacs were found stored but no consent was operating on the date of inspection; for violation of environmental laws a show cause notice dated 19.05.2023 was issued by UPPCB under Section 31(A) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, (hereinafter referred to as ‘ Air Act, 1981’ ) proposing environmental compensation of three lacs sixty two thousand five hundred and Closure Order was also issued on 25.08.2023, which was in operation at the time of submission of report. The observations made in the report are reproduced as under:

¶16

1. “ काया लय अिभलेखानुसार ट भ े क उ पादन मता -20,000 ट दन का है। िनरी ण / के समय ट भ ा संचािलत नह पाया गया। िनरी ण के समय ट भ ा नैचुरल ा ट

¶17

प ित पर थािपत पाया गया।

¶18

2. ट भ े के अ ांश -27.670113 व देशा तर -77.865109 है। िनरी ण के समय ट भ े का आकार अ डाकार पाया गया। ट भ े क िचमनी वृ ाकार पायी गयी।

¶19

3. िनरी ण के समय ट भ े क िचमनी पर लू गैस के अनु वण हेतु लेटफाम एवं पोट होल मानक के अनु प नही पाये गये। िनरी ण के समय खीचे गये फोटो ाफ संल ह । छाया ित संल क 4 क प म संल है। े े

¶20

¶21

4. काया लय अिभलेखानुसार उ ट भ ा वष 2005 से थािपत है। े ीय काया लय , उ० ० दूषण िनय ण बोड , अलीगढ़ के प सं या -1955/ एन .- सी . ओ .377/2005 दनांक 25.11.2005 के ारा मै० ओम ट उ ोग , ामटमो टया -, तहसीलइगलास -, जनपद - अलीगढ़ के नाम से थापनाथ सहमित िनग त क गयी है। ापारकर िवभाग के ारा जारी पंजीकरण एवं टन सं या -09225208393 दनांक 16/03/2011 क छाया ित संल है , छाया ित संल क -5 क प म संल है। े े

¶22

5. ट भ े ारा िम ी , बालू एवं पानी को मु य क े माल के प म योगकर पथाई एवं पकाई आ द या ारा ट का उ पादन कया जाता है।

¶23

6. ट भ ा म जल का योग घरेलू योजन एवं क ी ट बनाने हेतु िम ी िम संग म कया जाता है।

¶24

7. ट भ े म उ पादन या से औ ोिगक उ वाह जिनत नह होता है। मा घरेलू उ वाह जिनत होता है , िजसकेिन तारण हेतु सैि टक ट क सोकिपट क थापना क / गयी है।

¶25

8. ट भ े म धन के प म कोयले तूरी का योग लगभग /3 मी . टन दन कया जाता है। / ट भ े म ईधन केदहन से जिनत उ सज न के िन तारण हेतु भू तल से लगभग -30 मीटर

¶26

ऊँची प िचमनी थािपत कया गया है।

¶27

9. ट भ े म ईधन के दहन से जिनत उ सज न के िनय ण हेतु वायु दूषण िनय ण व था के प म ेिवटी सेट लंग चै बर थािपत पाये गये।िनरी ण के समय ट भ े क े च म लगभग 7 लाख प ट भरी ई पायी गयी तथा ट भ ा प रसर म लगभग 10 लाख प ट भ डा रत पायी गयी।

¶28

10. उ ट भ े को वत मान म संचालन हेतु सहमित दान ( वाय / जल ) नह है।

¶29

11. मा० रा ीय ह रत अिधकरण , नई द ली म दायर ओ०ए० सं० -253/2021 झ मनलाल गौतम बनाम यूिनयन ऑफ इि डया व अ य म पा रत आदेश दनांक 08/07/2022 के अनुसार जनपद अलीगढ़ म िजग / जल ) जैग तकनीक प ित पर थािपत तथा सहमित - ा कये जाने के उपरा त ही ट भ ा संचािलत कये जाय । ( वायु

¶30

12. उ ट भ े को बोड मु यालय , उ० ० दूषण िनय ण बोड , लखनऊ के प सं या - एच 93860/ सी -4/ सा -II -755/ का० ब० नो० /2023 दनांक 19/05/2023 के ारा वायु दूषण ) - अिधिनयम ( िनवारण तथा िनय ण 1981 यथासंशोिधत धारा -31 ए के अ तग त 0 3,62,500/- के प म पया वरणीय ितपू त अिधरोिपत कये जाने का उ लेख करते ए कारण बताओ नो टस जारी कया गया है , जो वत मान म भावी है। कारण बताओ नो टस क छाया ित संल क 6 क प म संल है। े े

¶31

¶32

13. बोड मु यालय , लखनऊ के ारा जारी कारण बताओ नो टस के स ब ध म िनरी ण े ीय काया लय , अलीगढ़ के ारा दनांक 08/08/2023 को कया गया तथा े ीय काया लय , अलीगढ़ के प सं या -1084/ एएस -747/2023 दनांक 16/08/2023 के ारा कारण बताओ नो टस दनांक 19/05/2023 क पुि करते ए आ या बोड मु यालय , लखनऊ को ेिषत क गयी है।

¶33

¶34

14. उ ट भ े को बोड मु यालय , लखनऊ के प सं याएच 99946/ सी -4/ ट -1256/ ब दी आदेश /2023 दनांक 25/08/2023 के ारा ब दी आदेश जारी कया गया है , जो क वत मान म भावी है। ब दी आदेश क छाया ित संल क -7 क प म संल है। े े

¶35

15. उ ट भ े को सहमित जल ) ा न होने के कारण ट भ ा ारा वष ( वायु /2022-23 का िविनयमन शु कजमा नह कया गया है। “

¶36

English translation by Tribunal:

¶37

1. “As per official records, the production capacity of the brick kiln is 20,000 bricks/day. At the time of inspection, the brick kiln was not found to be operational. The brick kiln was found to be installed on natural draft method.

¶38

2. The latitude of the brick kiln is 27.670113 and longitude is 77.865109. At the time of inspection, the shape of the brick kiln was found to be oval. The chimney of the brick kiln was found to be circular.

¶39

3. At the time of inspection, the platform and portal for monitoring the flue gases on the chimney of the brick kiln were not found to be as per the standards. Photographs taken at the time of inspection are enclosed. Copy is enclosed as Annexure 4.

¶40

4. As per office records, the said brick kiln is established since 2005. Consent for establishment has been issued in the name of M/s Om Brick Industry, Village-Tamotiya, Tehsil-Iglas, District-Aligarh with reference to letter no.-1955/NOC-377/2005 dated 25.11.2005 of Regional Office, UP Pollution Control Board, Aligarh. A photocopy of registration and TIN number-09225208393 dated 16/03/2011 issued by the Commercial Tax Department is enclosed, a photocopy is enclosed as Annexure-5.

¶41

5. Bricks are produced by brick kiln by using clay, sand and water as the main raw material through the process of kneading and baking etc.

¶42

6. Water in brick kiln is used for domestic purpose and for mixing clay for making raw bricks.

¶43

¶44

7. Industrial effluent is not generated from the production process in brick kiln. Only domestic effluent is generated for which septic tank/soakpit has been installed for disposal.

¶45

8. Coal/turi is used as fuel in brick kiln at the rate of approximately 3 mt. ton/day. For disposal of emissions generated from burning of fuel in brick kiln, a concrete chimney approximately 30 mt. high from ground level has been installed.

¶46

9. Gravity settling chambers were found installed as air pollution control system to control emissions generated by burning of fuel in the brick kiln. At the time of inspection, about 7 lakh baked bricks were found filled in the trench of the brick kiln and about 10 lakh baked bricks were found stored in the brick kiln premises.

¶47

10. The said brick kiln is currently not granted consent (water/air) for operation.

¶48

11. As per the order dated 08/07/2022 passed in OA No.-253/2021 Jhammanlal Gautam vs Union of India and others filed in Hon'ble National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, brick kilns should be operated in district Aligarh only after establishing them on zig-zag technical method and obtaining consent (water/air).

¶49

12. A show cause notice has been issued to the said brick kiln by the Board Headquarters, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Lucknow, letter number- H93860/C-4/SA-II-755/Ka. B. No./2023 dated 19/05/2023, mentioning the imposition of environmental compensation in the form of Rs. 3,62,500/- under Section-31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act-1981 as amended, which is currently in force. A photocopy of the show cause notice is attached as Annexure 6. 13. In respect of the show cause notice issued by the Board Headquarters, Lucknow, inspection was done by the Regional Office, Aligarh on 08/08/2023 and a report has been sent to the Board Headquarters, Lucknow confirming the show cause notice dated 19/05/2023 with reference number-1084/AS-747/2023 dated 16/08/2023 of the Regional Office, Aligarh.

¶50

14. A closure order has been issued to the said brick kiln by letter number-H99946/C-4/Brick-1256/Closure Order/2023 dated 25/08/2023 of the Board Headquarters, Lucknow, which is currently effective. Copy of the closure order is attached as Annexure-7.

¶51

15. Due to non-receipt of consent (water/air) to the said brick kiln, the regulation fee for the year 2022-23 has not been deposited by the brick kiln.”

¶52

After considering the report on 20.10.2023 Tribunal found it

¶53

appropriate to give opportunity to project proponent and consequently imleaded following respondents.

¶54

¶55

I. State of UP through Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh

¶56

II. District Magistrate, Aligarh

¶57

III. State Pollution Control Board

¶58

IV. M/s Rewati Balram Brick-kiln.

¶59

Registry was directed to issue notices to all said respondents enabling them to file response within three months.

¶60

Response dated 07.02.2024, has been filed by email dated 13.03.2024 by Regional Officer, UPPCB, Aligarh stating that notice of proceedings has been communicated to the proponent on 09.01.2024 and for recovery of environmental compensation proceedings have been initiated by requesting District Magistrate to recover the said amount of Rs. Three lacs Sixty Two Thousand Two Hundred from proponent.

¶61

Another response dated 06.05.2024, has been filed by Regional Officer, UPPCB, Aligarh stating that closure order issued on 25.08.2023 is still applicable on M/s Rewarti Balram Eit Udyog (old name M/s Shri Banke Bihari Eit Udyog); the brick kiln was inspected by latest on 02.05.2024 by officials of UPPCB and they found same closed; even sail mining and brick casting work was also not in progress; letter dated 19.04.2024 sent by District Magistrate, Aligarh and Senior Superintendent of Police for ensuring compliance of the order dated 03.04.2024; project proponent has also been sent letter dated 13.04.2024 to ensure compliance of Tribunals order.

¶62

District Magistrate was directed to serve notice upon respondent 4. He has also submitted report dated 13.06.2024 stating that notice of these proceedings have been served upon proponent on 09.01.2024 and as per latest report dated 12.05.2024 brick kiln has been found closed.

¶63

¶64

Today none has appeared on behalf of respondents 1, 2 and 4 Shri Daleep Dhyani Advocate has put in appearance on behalf of respondent 3 i.e., UPPCB and has said that brick kiln has been closed pursuant to the closure dated 25.08.2023 and environmental compensation has also been imposed and its recovery is in process since amount is not deposited by proponent.

¶65

In these facts and circumstances, we find it appropriate to dispose of this Original Application by directing respondents 1, 2 and 3 to ensure recovery of amount of environmental compensation from the respondent no. 4 at an early date and after realization of said amount the same shall be utilized for restoration/remediation and rejuvenation of damaged environment in the area concerned pursuant to environment remediation plan prepared by a Joint Committee comprising UPPCB, Central Pollution Control Board and District Magistrate, Aligarh. Wherein UPPCB shall be the Nodal Agency and prepare the plan within two months which shall be executed from three months from the date of realization of environmental compensation from respondent no.4.

¶66

Further, respondent 1,2 and 3 shall ensure that brick kiln of respondent 4 remained closed until it complying with all statutory requirement of environmental laws and apply and obtain requisite permission in accordance with law, pay off environmental compensation and comply other requirement of environmental laws and norms.

¶67

Sudhir Agarwal, JM

¶68

Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM

¶69

July 05, 2024 Original Application No. 421/2023 M

¶70

Bheekambar Singh vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Bheekambar Singh vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Col Vijay Kumar Sehgal vs State of Madhya Pradesh

Kapil Dev vs the Municipal Commissioner

Uday Pratap Singh vs

News Item Titled "Gujarat GST Commissioner Grabs 620 Acres from Entire Village Near Maharashtra,S Mahabaleshwar" Appearing in the Free Press Journal Dated 18.05.2024 vs

Chandar Singh Bagwan vs 1. State of Madhya Pradesh Mineral Resources Department through the Principal Secretary

News Item Published in Rashtriya Sahara Dated 29.10.2023 Titled "Police Ke Sanrakshan Mei Phal - Phul Rahe Hai Safed Baloo Ke Karobaree" vs

News Item Titled " Kausambi Mei Ngt Ke Niyamo Ko Undekha Kar Ho Raha Avaidh Khanan Baalu Mafiyoo Ne Yamuna Nadi Ki Dhaara Mai Bana Diya Raasta" Appearing in Circle Samachar Dated 13.02.2024 vs

News Item Titled "Six Killed in Explosion at Firecracker Unit Near Nagpur Appearing in the Hindu Dated 13.06.2024 vs

Kapil Dev vs the Municipal Commissioner

Uday Pratap Singh vs

Yogesh Yadav vs Delhi Pollution Control Committee

Manzoor Ahmad Mir vs

Aditya Rai vs

Ranjith Kv vs