No change in damage assessment: NGT joint panel’s second report

KARNAL: The second report of the joint committee formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to assess the damage caused by the Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC’s) Panipat refinery to environment and human health has made it clear that there is no change in the damage assessment made by CPCB members in the previous report.

On the recommendations of the first assessment report, the oil company has already deposited Rs 17.31 crore as an interim compensation to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The committee has mentioned that a component of Rs 18.46 lakh for the damage caused on the account of effluent discharge was common in the first report of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and CPCB and has decided to exclude the amount from the compensation amount of Rs 17.31 crore.

In May last year, in an interim order, the green tribunal had held the Panipat refinery responsible for violating environmental norms and spreading pollution in nearby villages.

Following the objections by the oil company, the NGT formed a second committee to assess the damage to environment and human health.

As per the second report, which has been uploaded on

NGT’s website, the joint committee visited the refinery on January 15 and observed that no progress has been made by IOC towards the restoration of environment and implementation of the panel’s recommendations.

“The committee requested IOC to provide the compliance status (remedial measures) along with other related information, but the statement submitted by the company did not indicate any action taken on the recommendations and suggestions of the joint committee,” the report read.

Comments of neither IOC general manager Mahua Basu nor general manager (corporate communications) SK Tripathi could be elicited despite repeated attempts.