Odisha: NGT seeks Rs 1 lakh/month river pollution 'cost'

CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Kendrapada Municipality to pay environmental compensation of Rs 1 lakh per month with effect from April 1, for unchecked pollution of the Gobari river.
The NGT, east zone bench said, "The amount should be deposited with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board on the first of every month. This arrangement will continue till effective measures for controlling pollution as per solid waste management rules-2016 is put in place".
The NGT imposed the penalty following a complaint alleging contamination of the river due to discharge of untreated waste into it. Rabeya Tabbasum, a resident of the town, filed the complaint and advocate Afraaz Suhail argued the case.
Imposing further penalty, the bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Saibal Dasgupta (expert member) said, "As far as the past violations are concerned, the committee in its inspection report has determined compensation from April 1, 2020 till March 31, 2022 to be Rs 24 lakh".
"We, therefore, direct the Kendrapara Municipality to deposit the said amount with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board within one month and file an affidavit of compliance by the next date of listing (August 24)," the bench specified in its July 13 order, a copy of which was made available on Wednesday.
The committee recommended inspection in a scheduled manner and cleaning from time to time as required for the stretch of river flowing near the municipality area.