38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Judiciary

NGT Directs CPCB To Recover Fine From Amazon, Flipkart Because Of Excess Plastic Usage

By Meghna Mishra      14 September, 2020 03:07 PM      0 Comments
NGT Directs CPCB Amazon Flipkart

In a recent decision by the the National Green Tribunal -NGT, the regulatory body has directed the Central Pollution Control Board to perform an environmental audit. This audit will also result in recovering fines from e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart with respect to their violation of environmental norms. 

"A report has been filed by the CPCB, which again mentions one or other reasons for not enforcing the law but does not mention the coercive measures adopted either directly by the CPCB or in coordination with the state pollution control boards," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said. 

Further, the bench also stated that CPCB is authorized to order environmental audits against concerned entities. On the basis of this audit, the Board is also authorized to recover any compensation for any violation of environmental norms. This is authorized under the National Green Tribunal Act. 

Also, the Apex Body for pollution control has cited the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. According to Section 9 (2) of the said act, “Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging is of producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market.” 

This submission by the bench was in response to a plea filed by a 16-year-old boy, Aditya Dubey. He has filed a plea by approaching the tribunal through his legal guardian. In his plea, he contents that the NGT should direct and order Amazon and Flipkart to restrain excessive use of plastic packaging in the delivery of goods by the firm.

Advocate Meenash Dubey is the counsel for the petitioner. In his plea, he stated that the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 govern the e-commerce companies which direct a controlled use of plastic. However, as a result of limited monitoring, the respondents and other e-commerce giants do not shy away from using excessive amounts of plastic in their packaging. In furtherance of his contention, the learned counsel for the petitioner also stated that these companies also use cardboard boxes that are bigger in size as compared to the delivered item inside them. The petition states, “Single-use plastic has emerged as one of the biggest environmental challenges for our planet. It is cheap, useful, ubiquitous, and very deadly.” 

Another important point highlighted in the petition was that the packaging usually ends up in the garbage after the package is opened. This plastic packaging is non-biodegradable and is recycled in extremely minuscule percentages. This results in “our planet with the passage of time are becoming a big dumping ground for single-use plastic” 

This will result in the plastic breaking into smaller components which are called micro-plastic. This is extremely harmful to the environment as it is not bio-degradable. The petition seeks for the court to impose a hefty fine on these e-commerce giants for the violation of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email