NGT Raps Environment Ministry, CPCB for Vague Reply on Air Pollution

The National Green Tribunal criticized the Environment Ministry and CPCB for submitting an unclear response on the psychological effects of air pollution.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for filing a vague and irrelevant reply on a matter regarding the psychological aspect of air pollution. The green panel also slammed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for diverting the environmental compensation deposited with it for unauthorized purposes, calling it a gross misuse and serious financial irregularity.

Vague Reply from Environment Ministry

The NGT had earlier issued a notice to the ministry, CPCB, and three others, emphasizing the need for adequate measures to control air polluting components and their adverse effects on various organs of the human body, especially those affecting the brain and emotional and psychological aspects. However, only the CPCB and the ministry filed replies, and the bench, comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, noted that the ministry's counsel admitted that its reply was not clear regarding the effective steps taken by it.

Despite repeated queries, the advocate for the ministry could not mention even a single step taken for effective control of air pollution. Consequently, the bench imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the ministry and directed it to file a supplementary reply within one month, providing details of all steps taken for effective monitoring and control of air pollution.

CPCB's Unauthorized Diversion of Funds

The NGT also expressed dissatisfaction with the CPCB's reply, noting that despite acknowledging the presence of several metals in the air causing pollution and notifying the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the board had not taken any effective steps to prevent and control air pollution.

The tribunal found that the amount of environmental compensation deposited with the CPCB was being diverted for unauthorized purposes. The CPCB was found to be funding urban local bodies of the National Capital Region (NCR) for road construction or repair and mechanical road sweepers under Environment Protection Charge funds. Similar funds were made available to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and other local bodies without specific reasons.

The NGT deemed it appropriate to require the CPCB to provide complete details of the entire amount of environmental compensation lying deposited with it and the manner in which any amount from the fund had been spent or utilized till November 30, 2023.

Diversion of Funds a Serious Irregularity

Underscoring that road construction or repair was the statutory responsibility of local bodies, the NGT slammed the CPCB, stating that diverting funds for unauthorized activities was a gross misuse and serious financial irregularity. The tribunal intended to issue a direction for the recovery of the diverted funds from the concerned CPCB officers who had sanctioned or diverted the funds for unauthorized purposes.

The NGT granted the CPCB a month's time to file a reply and emphasized that the amount deposited under environmental compensation should not be diverted or subjected to any financial irregularity, as it amounted to misappropriation of funds.

The tribunal emphasized that in the name of environmental protection, remediation, and rejuvenation, the CPCB should not undertake activities that are not directly or indirectly connected with environmental protection but are the statutory duties of other statutory bodies.