National Green Tribunal (NGT) bans on burning tyres in Public Places

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the burning of tyres at public places viz. roads, areas surrounded by residential buildings and also during protests by political and religious groups, as this leads to health hazards.
As per the Western Zone Bench of NGT-Pune ruling:
The local police shall take prompt check on burning of tyres and any negligence in the instructions given by NGT-Pune may entail penal aftermaths as specified in section 26 of the National Green tribunal Act, 2010. Any violation of the order may result in a penalty of up to Rs 10 crore, extendible to up to Rs 25 crores and/or imprisonment of 3 years.
The decision came on a petition filed by the Sahyog Trust and other advocates against the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the state of Maharashtra.

Why burning of tyres is harmful for environment?

Burning tyres emit toxic soup of pollutants that contains harmful gases and chemicals viz. carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chromium, arsenic, zinc, barium, cobalt, copper, iron, aluminum, manganese and vanadium, etc. which are hazardous to the human beings as well as to the environment. Minuscule particles released during the burning can settle deep in the lungs. Tyres contain 25 % extender oils derived from benzene, 25% styrene, a derivative of benzene, and 25% 1,3 butadiene. – both benzene and 1,3 butadiene are suspected human carcinogens. (A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer).

 About National Green Tribunal

• A special fast-track court to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.
• Established on October, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
• Objective: For effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four place of sitting of the Tribunal.

Note: The National Green Tribunal ruling can only be challenged in the Supreme Court.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2014