NGT reiterates Rs 1 crore penalty on SIDCUL, CETP for polluting environment

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has reiterated its order imposing Rs 1 crore penalty on the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand and a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Udham Singh Nagar for causing damage to the environment and health of people.

A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, NGT Chairperson, said that the air and water pollution was taking place by both the bodies. Earlier, the penalty was imposed on November 13, 2018. The order was challenged in the Supreme Court, which permitted the parties to move NGT and raise their grievances, which could be considered by the tribunal afresh.

The tribunal has now reiterated its order saying that there was no merit in the objection by CETP and SIDCUL and as per the inspection report they were discharging effluents in the nearby land.

The tribunal has directed the corporations to pay the amount within a month to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which is to be spent for restoration of the environment. Not complying with the deadline may result in paying interest at the rate of 12 per cent.

It also directed the CPCB to pay Rs 1 lakh to the amicus curiae advocate Raj Panjwani, out of the said amount and said that CETP and SIDCUL will also be liable to pay a sum of Rs 5 lakh each towards the cost, which may be deposited with the CPCB within a month.

It asked CPCB and the state pollution control board to furnish a further report in the matter within a month’s time.

The industrial units were emitting black dust, which set down on the village houses, especially in the morning and evening hours, due to which it was difficult for the residents to sit outside their houses or do any work.

The effluent has spread over the agriculture fields and even the tube wells of the village are having colored water, which is not fit for human or animal consumption.