Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal operation of brick kilns in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, 20/05/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Abhishek Panwar Vs Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board & Others dated 20/05/2025.
The miscellaneous application was registered on the basis of the report of the joint committee dated July 20, 2024 filed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) in compliance of the NGT order, April 22, 2024. In the original application the applicant had raised the grievance against illegally operating brick kilns in district Saharanpur.
The Tribunal in that OA had called for the report of the UPPCB which was filed on April 20, 2024. The report said 29 brick kilns do not have valid CTO and UPPCB has issued a total closure order to 29 brick kilns under the provisions of Air Act, 1981.
The report noted that UPPCB has not disclosed any action of imposition of environmental compensation against the defaulting brick kilns for their past violation. Report dated July 20, 2024 filed by the UPPCB in compliance of the above order, stated that for violation of the closure order by two brick kilns, environmental compensation of Rs 3,12,500 has been imposed. Report does not reflect the action taken and environmental compensation imposed against the 29 brick kilns which were operating without Consent To Operate (CTO) and were defaulters, therefore, closure orders were issued against them.
Counsel for the UPPCB sought four weeks time to examine the issue and file a fresh report. The court will next hear the case on September 25, 2025.