Home / Environment / NGT Orders Kerala PCB to Fine River Polluters
NGT Orders Kerala PCB to Fine River Polluters
2 Mar
Summary
- NGT directs Kerala PCB to fix environmental compensation for Kadambrayar pollution.
- Polluter pays principle will determine compensation amount.
- Violators lacked adequate sewage treatment facilities, tribunal found.
In a significant environmental ruling, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to impose environmental compensation on entities responsible for polluting the Kadambrayar river in Ernakulam. This directive, issued by the tribunal's Southern Bench on February 19, 2026, emphasizes the 'polluter pays principle' to calculate the financial penalties.
The PCB is tasked with assessing the compensation based on the volume of waste discharged by violators. This action follows a report from the Local Self-Government department (LSGD), which identified unauthorized wastewater discharge from various sources, including industrial units and apartment complexes, as the cause of the river's contamination.
Inspections conducted by the PCB confirmed that numerous commercial and industrial establishments failed to meet environmental norms. These erring units were found to lack essential facilities, such as proper sewage treatment plants, leading to the direct release of untreated wastewater into the Kadambrayar.
