CHENNAI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on Tamil Nadu Government for its failure to protect the Buckingham Canal, Adyar and Cooum rivers. It has directed the government to take action against entities responsible for polluting the water bodies. The NGT has summoned the Chief Secretary before the Tribunal on April 24, 2019.
The bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chairperson NGT, Justice K Ramakrishnan, a judicial member and Dr Nagin Nanda, expert member, said, “We are tentatively inclined to require Tamil Nadu to pay Rs 100 crore as a compensation to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for damage to the environment. The penalty amount may be used for restoration of the environment.”
The bench has directed constitution of a joint committee comprising representatives of CPCB, Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) Bengaluru, Madras School of Economics, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).
The TNPCB will be the nodal agency to coordinate and comply with the orders of NGT. The committee may assess the causes, quantum of damage to the environment and the steps required for restoration of the environment. The bench said that the committee may give its report within three months.