[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE Delhi government has been ordered deposit Rs 25 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for failing to curb unauthorized industrial activities in Mundka and Neelwal villages.
A panel of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) headed by Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel further warned that the government would be liable to pay a further amount of Rs 10 crore a month as a coercive measure if it continued to fail to act against the unauthorized industrial activity. The amount will be spent on the restoration of the environment.
The order was passed in response to petitions filed by Satish Kumar and Mahavir Singh alleging unauthorised industrial activities, including handling and illegal disposal of burnt plastic, leather, rubber, motor engine and other water materials and continuous illegal industrial activity on agriculture lands in Mundka and Neelwal villages.
The NGT took cognisance of a report filed by CPCB which said the Delhi government had not deposited Rs 25 crore as per its order on December 3, 2018. “Even though an action taken report has been filed, the action hardly meets the magnitude of violation,” the NGT noted.
“We are informed that a sum of Rs 6,40,000/- has been recovered for release of 150 impounded vehicles found engaged in transporting pollutants. There is no serious exercise of assessing the cost of damage to the environment and the cost of restoration. It is also not clear whether the polluting activities have been stopped,” the NGT further noted.
“The amount to be recovered on “Polluter Pays” has to commensurate with the damage caused and adequate to meet the cost of restoration and a deterrent so that polluting activity does not remain profitable which admittedly has not happened,” the panel said, while directing the Chief Secretary, Delhi to be present in person at the next date of hearing on August 5, 2019.
