Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding generation of hazardous waste by Grasim Industries Limited in Renukoot, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, 19/07/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Ashwani Kumar Dubey Vs Union of India & Others dated 19/07/2019. The matter of discussion was the Report of the Committee in O.A 164/2018 with I.A. No. 155/2019 for direction dispensing the implementation of the Core Committee’s Recommendation. I.A. No. 337/2019 for permitting the applicant to continue to transport coal by road & I.A. No. 384/2019 for quashing the recommendation of the Core Committee.
The issue relates to generation of hazardous waste by Grasim Industries Limited in Renukoot, Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh in the course of its activities of manufacturing caustic soda which was stored in its premises since 2010.
The said waste has mercury bearing brine sludge which has to be disposed of as per Rule 16 of the Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016. However, the said waste continues to be stored in the premises of Grasim Industries.
NGT in its order of August 28, 2018 had directed the industry to shift the mercury from the factory premises to Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) immediately. Grasim Industries had filed the application asking for quashing of the NGT order requiring shifting of the mercury brine sludge and muck as the storage was safe and covered by the consent given by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB).
NGT while turning down the appeal, directed Grasim Industries, Renukoot shift the hazardous waste in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Management Rules. Further, for the illegal storage as well as damage to the environment on account of contamination, the industry was liable to pay environmental compensation and be dealt with as per Hazardous Waste Rules. Such compensation would be assessed by a joint Committee comprising representative of the MoEF&CC, CPCB and the IIT, Kanpur within one month pending such assessment, Grasim Industries would deposit a sum of Rs. 1 Crore towards the interim compensation with the CPCB to be spend for the restoration of the environment. CPCB would be the nodal agency for the purpose.