Home / Environment / NGT Orders Rs 50 Lakh Fine for River Pollution
NGT Orders Rs 50 Lakh Fine for River Pollution
1 Apr
Summary
- Sugar factory fined Rs 50.10 lakh for polluting Hiranyakeshi River.
- Untreated effluent discharge led to environmental damage compensation.
- NGT directs fund utilization for river restoration within six months.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench in Pune has mandated that the Appasaheb Nalawade Gadhinglaj Taluka Cooperative Sugar Factory, located in Kolhapur district, must deposit Rs 50.10 lakh. This amount is designated as environmental damage compensation for discharging untreated effluent into the Hiranyakeshi River.
The order, issued on March 23, specifies that the sugar factory has one month to make the deposit with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The NGT further directed the MPCB to utilize the collected compensation for the restoration of the polluted environment within six months.
This action follows a petition alleging the factory released molasses and other effluents, contaminating water sources and posing health risks. A joint committee inspection in June 2022 revealed deficiencies in the factory's effluent treatment system.
The factory argued financial constraints and limited violation days, but the NGT rejected these claims, affirming the MPCB's calculation of the environmental damage compensation.
