Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding environmental compensation to be paid by Damodar Valley Corporation for discharge of furnace oil into river Damodar, 03/03/2021
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Damodar Valley Corporation Vs Jharkhand Pollution Control Board dated 03/03/2021. Damodar Valley Corporation (appellant) has filed an appeal in the NGT against the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board order May 7, 2020 to submit the balance amount of environmental compensation of INR 48,08,000.00/- for the discharge of furnace oil by the unit into Damodar river October 15, 2019. An interim compensation of Rs. 1 crore was paid by the Damodar Valley Corporation.
The NGT refused to accept the submission of the appellant and noted that the grounds on which the compensation was challenged was that "it had informed the State PCB after the incident and there was no foul play". The court said that the appellant was responsible for the pollution even if there was no foul play.
The NGT directed that the amount of compensation recovered should be spent for restoration of the environment by preparing an action plan either through the appellant itself or through any other appropriate agency under supervision of a joint Committee of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board and District Magistrate, Bokaro.