NGT imposes fine on 6 industries in Rajasthan's Alwar

The National Green Tribunal has slapped massive fines on six industries in Bhiwadi and Khuskhera industrial areas in Rajasthan's Alwar district for discharging effluents in open and polluting the environment.
A vacation bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim imposed environmental compensation on Active Toys Pvt Ltd, BG Steel, Kesri Steels Limited (Unit-II), Agrawal Metal Works Pvt Ltd Asiatic Electrical and Switchgear Pvt Ltd and Shyam Auto Pvt. Ltd after an inspection team found deficiencies in their units.
While Active Toys Pvt Ltd, BG Steel, Kesri Steels Limited (Unit-II) Asiatic Electrical and Switchgear and Shyam Auto Pvt. Ltd have been asked to pay of Rs 10 lakh each, Agrawal Metal Works Pvt Ltd will have to cough up a compensation of Rs 15 lakh besides giving an undertaking that they would not cause any pollution and would take extra precautions in future.

They have also been asked to comply with the observations and findings of the inspection team within three months.
"Subject to the applicant's depositing the environmental compensation to the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) and the further undertaking to the tribunal, we permit these industries to operate, but in the event of default, the industries would be liable to be shut down and would also be liable to pay further environmental compensation for polluting the environment in the past and in the current period," the bench said.
The green panel asked the RSPCB to restore their electricity after the payment of the environmental compensation and revive their consent subject to conditions stipulated in the order.

"In the event of default of any of the directions, the industries will be shut down and be exposed to such penal action and such action in law as may be permissible. 25 per cent of the environmental compensation so deposited be remitted to Central Pollution Control Board," the bench said.

It also ordered Agrawal Metal Works Pvt Ltd and Shyam Auto Pvt Ltd to obtain permission from the Central Ground Water Authority for extraction of ground water and asked it to install rain water harvesting system for replacing of the depletion caused by extraction of water.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Sumitra Devi, a local ward member of Dharuhera Municipal Committee and others highlighting the menace of water pollution faced by local residents of about 20 villages caused by the Bhiwadi and Khuskhera industrial areas.

"The discharge of untreated heavy industrial effluents (containing dangerous chemical and radioactive substance) is contaminating the environment (air and water) and making it dangerous, poisonous and unfit for living a healthy life," the plea had said.
It had said that the state has failed to take any strict legal action against the industries that are discharging the waste and untreated waste industrial effluents in the water.
"The discharge of such waste without proper treatment plan results in pollution of the water and violates the provisions of EP Act, 1986 along with its rules and the Water Act, 1974," the plea had said.