NGT imposes ₹2L fine on HP pollution board

Directs company to obtain environmental clearance

THE TRIBUNAL’S ORDER CAME ON A PLEA FILED BY ONE AYUSH GARG HIGHLIGHTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BEING CAUSED BY THE CEMENT COMPANY

NEW DELHI : The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh on the HP State Pollution Control Board for failing to take action against a unit in Sirmaur.

A bench comprising Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore and expert member SS Garbyal directed the company, Radiant Cement Company Private Limited, to get environmental impact assessment appraisal conducted and obtain environmental clearance in accordance with EIA Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments. The tribunal’s order came on a plea filed by Ayush Garg h.

As per the plea, the unit manufactures stainless steel ingots and flats with an installed capacity of 9,600 Metric Tonnes per Annum (MTPA) for the furnace and 43,200 MTPA for rolling per annum on a single shift of eight hours a day in violation of the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006.

The plea said as per paragraph 3(a) of the EIA Notification, 2006 all toxic and heavy metal producing units above 20,000 tonnes per annum need environmental clearance. It claimed that the unit has wilfully and knowingly not obtained the environmental clearance in violation of EIA Notification, 2006. The tribunal in its order said, “We are convinced that the capacity of the rolling mill of the Respondent no. 3 is 43,200 MTPA on single shift basis of eight hours and, therefore, is covered under the EIA Notification, 2006 .

We, therefore, direct that the Respondent no. 3 may approach the Ministry of Environment and Forests for environmental impact assessment appraisal and environmental clearance in accordance with EIA Notification, 2006.

“Until the environmental clearance is obtained, operation of the unit will remain suspended. We also direct Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board to pay cost of ₹2,00,000 for failing to take action against the unit of the Respondent no. 3 for operating without environmental clearance which in this case was mandatory since the capacity of rolling mill is more than the threshold limit of 30,000 Metric Tonnes per Annum. This cost be paid within one week and is to be deposited with National Green Tribunal Bar Association, New Delhi,” the bench said.