Causing Air Pollution And Refusing To Pay Fine? Be Ready To Pay Extra Penalty

Now, people refusing to pay environment compensation for causing air pollution would be slapped with an additional fine and served notices to appear before the National Green Tribunal. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar has now asked the Delhi government to take strict action against those who violated its order on burning of waste or generating dust emissions through construction activity.

"The 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,” the Bench said.

"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 the NGT. We make it clear that they would be liable to pay additional costs," the Bench added.

The matter is listed for next hearing on November 24.

The tribunal had recently banned construction activity in the Delhi-national capital region, 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 NCR, an environment compensation of Rs 1 lakh would be levied for each such fault.

 With inputs from Housing News