Violators refusing fine to pay additional cost: NGT

NEW DELHI: Any person refusing to pay environment compensation for causing air pollution would be slapped with an additional fine and served notice to appear before the National Green Tribunal, the green panel said on Tuesday.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the Delhi government to take strict action against whoever violated its order on burning of waste or generating dust emissions through construction activity.

The green panel directed the city government and the municipal corporations to serve notices to the violators who refuse to pay the penalty for causing emissions and degrading the environment.

"Delhi government and the corporations state that in terms of the orders passed by the tribunal, they issued notices to pay environment compensation varying from Rs 1,000 to Rs five lakh relatable to different violations, depending on the area. However, some of the noticees refused to pay the amount.

"In view of this, we direct that any person who refuses to pay environment compensation shall be served notice and simultaneously asked to appear before NGT. We make it clear that they would be liable to pay additional costs," the bench said.

The matter is listed for next hearing on November 24.

The tribunal had recently banned construction activity in Delhi-ncr after deadly smog blanketed the region and the neighbouring states and levels of particulate matter crossed the permissible limits.

The green panel had ordered that if any violation of its order was found at the construction sites by the inspecting teams in Delhi and the National Capital Region, an environment compensation of Rs 1 lakh would be levied for each such fault.