NGT directs 3 thermal plants to pay Rs 1.5 crore

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed three thermal power plants in Punjab to pay Rs 1.5 crore as “environmental compensation” over their failure to scientifically dispose of fly ash.In its recent order, the NGT directed the State Pollution Control Board to ensure that the compensation was deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board within 30 days.

Earlier this year, the NGT had asked thermal power plants to take prompt steps for scientific disposal of fly ash, warning that the failure to do so would entail a penalty. The fly ash particles consist of silica, alumina, oxides of iron, calcium, and magnesium and toxic heavy metals. A majority of thermal power stations in India use bituminous coal and produce large quantities of fly ash.

In the private sector, the Goindwal Sahib power plant has been imposed a penalty (environmental compensation) of Rs 47,08,480. Similarly, the Nabha Thermal Power Plant, Rajpura, has been levied Rs 55,70,239. The NGT has also asked PSPCL’s Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, to deposit Rs 53,94,832. Meanwhile, the state-owned Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant, Ropar, has been asked to submit the data of fly ash utilisation.

Fly ash is the end product of combustion during the process of power generation in the coal-based thermal power plants. Proper management of fly ash is important for not only the environment but for us also as the ash produced by the power plants occupies a lot of land space.

Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) is a Supreme Court directed green tax:-
Green Taxes are one of a variety of policy measures formulated by the government to control activities that affect the environment.

What is National Green Tribunal (NGT):-
It is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
With the establishment of the NGT, India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.
NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.

Structure of NGT:-
The Tribunal comprises of the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members. They shall hold office for term of five years and are not eligible for reappointment.
The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with Chief Justice of India (CJI).
A Selection Committee shall be formed by central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.
There are to be least 10 and maximum 20 full time Judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.