NGT fines BMC ₹2.1 crore for polluting drains, instructs civic chief to be present for next hearing

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has levied a penalty of ₹2

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has levied a penalty of ₹2.1 crore on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as environmental compensation for discharge of inadequately-treated effluent into city drains from six different sewage treatment plants (STP). The green court has also directed that municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal be present in person at the next date of hearing on August 28.

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The development comes on the heels of a recent execution application filed before the tribunal by Vanashakti, a city-based NGO. In October last year, in response to a petition by Vanashakti, NGT had rapped the civic body over continued pollution of city’s creeks and water bodies, and had imposed an environmental compensation of ₹34 crore, which BMC is yet to pay to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

HT had reported on the matter in detail on July 4 and 5 explaining that BMC requires at least another four to five years to free city water bodies of pollution. At the time, BMC officials said they have appealed against the NGT’s order before the Supreme Court (SC), which will decide on the legitimacy of the imposed penalty which now stands at ₹36 crore.

“BMC did not file any special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the NGT order. Instead they only filed a civil appeal after Vanashakti filed an execution application (contempt) in NGT. The SC subsequently issued notice to all parties but did not grant any stay of the NGT judgement. NGT has now taken serious view of continuing violations, which also includes discharge of cement slurry into creeks, which we have pointed out in our execution application,” said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti.

Environmentalists have responded favourably to NGT’s latest directions, commending the court for upholding that direct accountability in the matter rests with the municipal commissioner.

“We direct the municipal commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to appear in person along with his response... on the next date. The municipal commissioner may explain why coercive measures under section 25 of the NGT Act, 2010 read with section 51 CPC (Code of Civil Procedure) may not be taken to ensure compliance of the order of this tribunal,” the court observed.