NGT asks four firms to pay ₹286cr for polluting Mahul
DAMAGE OVER 5 YRS Orders formation of panel to make action plan to reduce pollution
MUMBAI:FOUR industrial firms in the Mahul-chembur area have been directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to pay ₹286.2 crore as compensation for environmental damage caused by air pollution over five years. The bench was hearing a 2014 application that sought the closure of an industrial firm located less than 10 metres from Mahul and Ambapada.
In an order published on Thursday, the NGT principal bench headed by chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel directed Aegis Logistics Limited (ALL) to pay ₹142 crore; Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., ₹76.5 crore; Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., ₹67.5 crore; and Sea Lord Containers Limited (SLCL), ₹ 0.2 crore, as compensation. The 2014 application, filed by Charudatt Koli, Dayaram Mahulkar, Mohan Mhatre and Dattaram Koli, had sought the closure of SLCL, which is an additional unit of ALL. The compensation amount was based on calculations (see box) made under a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in-house technical committee. The matter was heard by the bench on June 30 and the order was published on Thursday.
“While it is true that there may be many reasons for presence of VOCS [volatile organic compounds] in the atmosphere like vehicular emissions, etc., it cannot be denied that the said four companies contribute substantially and predominantly to the VOCS in Mahul and Ambapada villages. The prolonged exposure… may weaken lungs and other organs. Conditions prevailing in the area are sometimes likened to that of a ‘gas chamber’,” read NGT’S order.
VOCS – including benzene, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene – are harmful toxic pollutants that cause exposure-related health effects in human beings. Among the major contributors to air pollution in Chembur are logistic services storing oil, gas and chemical items; and oil companies releasing VOCS during loading, storage and unloading or handling of hazardous chemicals at various stages.
While directing the firms to submit the funds to different accounts, NGT has directed the constitution of a 10-member joint committee to prepare an action plan for pollution abatement over not more than five years and address health problems of inhabitants due to air pollution in the Mahul-chembur area. The committee comprises two senior nominees of the CPCB; a Union environment ministry representative; a Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) member; a nominee from the state health secretary; a Mumbai district collector; and representatives of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Tata Institute of Social Sciences,