NGT slaps ₹5 crore interim fine on Punjab pharma unit for flouting norms

The National Green Tribunal has imposed an interim fine of ₹5 crore on a pharmaceutical unit in Punjab for “violation of environmental norms”. The NGT said that the PSPCB “failed to discharge its statutory functions adequately and effectively” While denouncing the conduct of the Punjab State Pollution Control Board for failing to discharge its statutory functions effectively, the NGT directed the board to initiate criminal proceedings against the bulk drug manufacturing unit, besides determining the final compensation amount. In an order passed on Thursday, justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairman of the NGT bench, said: “Considering the entire record, we are clearly of the view that the industry has failed to comply with the provisions of environmental laws, particularly the Water Act, and has consistently violated its provisions while its zero liquid discharge status has not been achieved till date.” The bench, also comprising judicial member justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad, said the PSPCB “failed to discharge its statutory functions adequately and effectively”. Regarding environmental compensation, the tribunal said: “Since in the present financial year, the amount of environmental compensation at 0.5 % of turnover comes to about ₹8.5 crore, we find it appropriate to impose an interim environmental compensation of ₹ 5 crore which shall be paid or deposited by the unit with the PSPCB within two months.” “We also direct the PSPCB to determine the final amount of environmental compensation after collecting information with regard to the turnover from the proponent of the respective year when the violations were found and to impose compensation for such period separately after due opportunity of hearing to the proponent,” it added. The NGT bench has also directed the PSPCB to initiate criminal proceedings against the unit for past violations and make periodical inspections to ensure that it strictly complied with the environmental laws.