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Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding EC imposed on a printing press, Delhi, 25/08/2020

  • 25/08/2020

Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Mohd. Yasin Vs Delhi Pollution Control Committee dated 25/08/2020.

The Appeal has been preferred against order of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) dated 17.07.2020 assessing Environmental Compensation of Rs. 20 Lakhs on ‘Polluter Pays’ principle against the appellant. According to the impugned order, the appellant was engaged in activity of printing press machines and its spare parts which falls under ‘Orange’ category in non-conforming area. The DPCC laid down sum of Rs. 20 Lakhs for Environmental Compensation for every unit operating in ‘Orange’ category in non-conforming area.

According to the appellant, a uniform compensation for every ‘Orange’ category unit operating in non-conforming area may result in discrimination against smaller units without reference to their contribution to pollution. The substance of the contention is that there should be slabs of compensation depending on size of unit, financial capacity or extent of pollution.

NGT directed the appellant unit to deposits 25% of the amount in the first instance and undertake not to start prohibited activity in non conforming areas and not to repeat the polluting activity. The scale of compensation is then revisited by a Joint Committee comprising Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the DPCC within three months. If no deposit is made and undertaking as above is not filed within one month, no further order will be necessary. If scale of compensation is revised, the impugned compensation will stand revised accordingly.