NGT directs JNPT, ONGC to deposit Rs 30 crore in four weeks

The amount will be disbursed as compensation among fishermen displaced due to expansion activities

The National Green Tribunal has directed Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and ONGC to deposit Rs 30 crore in an escrow account with the Raigad's collector in Maharashtra for disbursing it as compensation among fishermen displaced due to expansion activities.

The order, passed by a Western Zone bench of NGT comprising Justice V R Kingaonkar and Dr Ajay A Deshpande, said JNPT and ONGC have to give Rs 20 crore and Rs 10 crore respectively and the amount will be disbursed subject to the outcome of the case.

An escrow account is a temporary account held by a third party during the process of a transaction between two parties.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by Ramdas Janardan Koli of Paramparik Macchimar Bachao Kruti Samiti seeking rehabilitation of displaced fishermen.

The plea was filed seeking several interim relief while the main application for rehabilitation and compensation to the fishermen was pending before the tribunal.

The petitioner has sought various reliefs, particularly, rehabilitation of the families of fishermen, who were allegedly affected on account of construction and expansion of JNPT and activities of ONGC at Raigad.

The bench said, "In our opinion, there is potent threat of environmental damages caused due to expansion of the port activities of JNPT and development activities of CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation)."

It also observed that the spillage of oil by faulty maintenance of the pipeline by ONGC has too contributed to the loss of environment and ecology.

"We are of the view that by way of interim-measure, JNPT shall deposit an amount of Rs 20 crore and ONGC shall deposit amount of Rs 10 crore, with the collector, Raigad within period of four weeks.

"The amount shall be placed by the Collector, Raigad in Escrow Account for disbursement to the families of fishermen, in terms of final order, which may be passed in this application or any order that may be passed by the High Court," the bench said.