Dec 03, 2024 10:54 PM IST
In Might 2023, Shahu Mokashi, a resident of Kolhapur district, filed an software with the NGT concerning air pollution within the Hiranyakeshi River
The western bench of the Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal (NGT) on Monday, December 2, expressed dissatisfaction with the Maharashtra Air pollution Management Board’s (MPCB’s) response to a sugar manufacturing facility named ‘Appasaheb Nalawade Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana’ in Gadhinglaj tehsil of Kolhapur district discovered violating environmental norms in 2021-22 however nonetheless allowed to function for 72 days in 2023-24. The bench has requested the MPCB to submit its response as to why the manufacturing facility was allowed to function in any respect.
The NGT in its order dated Might 12, 2023, mentioned that the river was being polluted by two industries particularly Hiranyakeshi SSK Niyamit situated within the state of Karnataka and ‘Appasaheb Nalawade Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana’ situated within the state of Maharashtra. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC)
In Might 2023, Shahu Mokashi, a resident of Kolhapur district, filed an software with the NGT concerning air pollution within the Hiranyakeshi River. The NGT in its order dated Might 12, 2023, mentioned that the river was being polluted by two industries particularly Hiranyakeshi SSK Niyamit situated within the state of Karnataka and ‘Appasaheb Nalawade Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana’ situated within the state of Maharashtra. The principal bench of the NGT in July 2023 ordered two separate hearings contemplating the 2 industries had been situated in two totally different states. Ever since, hearings involving the Kolhapur-based sugar manufacturing facility have been carried out by the western bench of the NGT in Pune.
Within the final listening to of the western bench of the NGT held in September 2024, the MPCB submitted its response stating {that a} effective of ₹5,010,000 be imposed as environmental damages compensation (EDC) on the sugar manufacturing facility for a interval of 127 days together with 55 days in 2021-22 and 72 days in 2023-24. To this, the western bench raised a query in the identical listening to as to why the manufacturing facility was allowed to function for 72 days in 2023-24 if it was discovered violating environmental norms in 2021-22. The NGT then directed the MPCB to submit its response on this.
Within the newest listening to, the MPCB did not file an acceptable response to this question. Therefore, the western bench of the NGT comprising justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and skilled member Vijay Kulkarni expressed dissatisfaction with the MPCB’s response. In its order issued on December 2, the bench mentioned, “We are highly dissatisfied with the reply affidavit submitted by the learned counsel for MPCB. As far as the response to our query is concerned, what we had intended to know by our previous order was that when violations were found on the part of ‘Appasaheb Nalawade Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana’ in 2021-2022, why then was it allowed to operate in the following years? Our query remains unanswered, as the board only mentioned the number of days the industry operated.”
Regardless of expressing dissatisfaction with the MPCB’s response, the bench has given the MPCB a last alternative to reply to its question inside two weeks from the date of importing of the order. The following listening to is scheduled on March 26, 2025.
See extra
Information / Cities / Pune / NGT expresses dissatisfaction with MPCB’s response to sugar manufacturing facility in Kolhapur district