Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

In compliance with a National Green Tribunal order, the Indore Municipal Corporation, assisted by the police, removed encroachments and dismantled 30 stalls from the catchment area of Sirpur Lake on Saturday morning.

Feature	Details
Location	Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Type	Human-made wetland
Creator	Constructed by Maharaja Shivaji Rao Holkar
Purpose	Originally created to generate water supply for Indore city; also used for recreational activities
Historical Reference	Mentioned in the Indore City Gazette (1908) as a key resource for water supply and recreation
Physical Characteristics	Shallow, alkaline, nutrient-rich lake that floods during the monsoon season
Habitats	Wetlands, shrub forests, grasslands, tall trees, shallow and deep-water areas
Fauna	Home to 189 bird species from 55 families Commonly sighted birds: Painted stork, Bar-headed goose, Eurasian wigeon, various egrets, herons, kingfishers
Other Wildlife	Includes several species of reptiles, insects, butterflies, and fish
Bird Watching Significance	One of the few remaining bird-watching sites within Indore city limits where water birds can be observed
Ramsar Status	Designated as a Ramsar site on January 7, 2022

About National Green Tribunal

Establishment	Established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases related to environmental protection and conservation.
Principal Bench	New Delhi
Other Benches	Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai
Composition	Comprises Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Expert Members Chairperson: Retired Supreme Court Judge Judicial Members: Retired High Court Judges
Bench Composition	Each bench must include at least one Judicial Member and one Expert Member
Expert Members	Must have a professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years' experience in environment/forest conservation and related fields
Powers	Can hear all civil cases related to environmental issues Jurisdiction covers laws listed in Schedule I of the NGT Act
Relevant Laws under NGT	The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Appellate Jurisdiction	Has the authority to hear appeals as a Court
Procedure	Not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; guided by principles of natural justice
Timeframe for Disposal	Mandated to dispose of applications or appeals within 6 months of filing

Source:

FREEPRESSJOURNAL

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statement about the National Green Tribunal (NGT):

The tribunal was established under the Environment Protection Act of 1986.
It has the authority to handle cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests.
The decisions taken by the tribunal are final and cannot be challenged in any court of law.

How many of the above-given statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Green Tribunal was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.

Statement 2 is correct: National Green Tribunal Act 2010 has power for the 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 the environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to person.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Tribunal has the power to review its own decisions. If this fails, the decision can be challenged before the Supreme Court within ninety days.