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P. 33
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
DAILY COURT DIGEST:
MAJOR ENVIRONMENT ORDERS (APRIL 1, 2026)
S OPs for forest fire management issued A meeting was later convened on July 11, 2025
with ICFRE and the Forest Research Institute
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has pre- (FRI), Dehradun, to discuss the proposed SOPs
and the rationale behind suggested changes.
pared and circulated standard operating pro- During the meeting, the Director of FRI present-
cedures (SOP) for forest fire management to all ed the SOPs for forest fire prevention, mitigation
states and Union Territories for implementation and response.
on October 13, 2025.
Following deliberations, directions were issued
This was stated in an affidavit submitted by the
to refine the SOPs and submit a revised version.
The ministry reiterated this request in a letter
dated August 10, 2025, asking ICFRE-FRI and the
Forest Survey of India (FSI) to expedite submis-
sion of the revised SOP incorporating the obser-
vations made.
ICFRE, Dehradun, submitted the revised SOPs
on September 25, 2025. These cover forest fire
management across different forest types, in-
cluding tropical dry deciduous, subtropical pine,
subtropical broadleaf, tropical semi-evergreen
and tropical moist deciduous forests.
MoEFCC on April 1, 2026. The report detailed the NGT Hears Case Against Rail Wagon Manufac-
steps taken to develop the SOPs. It said the mat- turer
ter was discussed at a meeting of the Central The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken up
Monitoring Committee on February 25, 2025, a case alleging environmental violations by a rail
where the Indian Council of Forestry Research wagon manufacturing unit in Uttarpara, West
and Education (ICFRE) was tasked with prepar- Bengal.
ing comprehensive SOPs by March 15, 2025.
The SOPs were to focus on preventing, mitigat- According to the application heard on April
ing and responding to forest fires, incorporating 1, 2026, the company — Titagarh Wagons Ltd
best practices from various state governments (HED), now known as Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd
and standardising firefighting tools and equip- — has been improperly handling and disposing
ment. of hazardous waste.
In a letter dated March 11, 2025, the MoEFCC re- The applicant alleged that the company’s prac-
quested ICFRE, Dehradun, to submit draft SOPs tices contravene the Hazardous and Other
for further action, along with a list of standard- Wastes (Management and Transboundary
ised firefighting equipment. Movement) Rules, 2016, and the Water (Preven-
May 2026 PLASTICS NEWS 35
