Following submissions made by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) before the National Green Tribunal, pertaining to compensation levied on various authorities for non-compliance of solid waste management by plastic industries in Narela and Bawana, the green panel has asked the DPCC to continue its inspection and take further action.
While noting that the DPCC, last year had imposed a cost of ₹5 lakh each on the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development, a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel has asked the DPCC to furnish another report in three months time.
“The principle of recovery of compensation for damage to the environment must be incremental for subsequent defaults to the extent of double the amount which is imposed in the first instance. We have repeatedly laid down that polluter pays principle applies not only against the polluter but also against those who fail to take action,” the Bench said.
The directions came while the green panel was hearing a plea pertaining to remedial action required for “pollution caused by plastic industries” in Narela and Bawana.
A joint inspection report submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board and the DPCC had said that while in Narela drains were choked by waste and open dumping of municipal waste, in Bawana untreated industrial waste was being directly released into drains.
The DPCC further informed the NGT that a cost of ₹50,000 each was levied on 44 units in Bawana for construction and demolition activities and on 182 units for smoke and garbage. “Solid waste has been lifted and marshals have been deputed and notice issued to the DSIIDC for action against violators,” the report added.