Pollution Control Board imposes penalty of Rs 7.88 crore on RIICO and 87 polluting units, directs 79 units to close down

By The BuckStopper Reporter

The Rajasthan Pollution Control Board, under direction of National Green Tribunal (NGT), has imposed a penalty of Rs 7.88 crore on Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), a state public sector unit and 87 industrial units operating in RIICO industrial area for noncompliance of environment norms.

The pollution control board has also issued notices to 79 of these units to immediately close down the operations.
“These units have not ‘consent to operation' from pollution control board. Besides these units are causing damage to the environment,” said a senior official of pollution control board.

The Background:

In 2022, a petition was filed with NGT regarding illegal operational of these polluting units without taking consent to operate. After hearing on the petition, the NGT formed a joint action committee comprising officials of forest department and pollution control board.

The committee, after assessment reached to the conclusion that the units are being run without any valid permission and are discharging polluted water which is causing great damage to the environment. The committee, based on the report, decided to levy penalty of Rs 1.34 crore on 87 units against the damage caused to the environment and a fine of Rs 6.54 crore on RIICO, under whose industrial area these units are being operated.

“Out of 87 units, the board has directed 79 units to close down immediately,” the official said.

Compliance report submitted to NGT

The committee has submitted compliance report with NGT for further directions. The NGT has scheduled the next hearing on December 13, 2023.

The BuckStopper Reporter

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