Judgement of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Adil Ansari Vs M/s Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd., Asmoli & Others dated 01/09/2021. The matter was related to damage to the environment by the units of Dhampur sugar mills and distillery in Bijnor, Sambhal and Bareilly.

The NGT directed each unit: (i) M/s Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd., district Sambhal, (ii) M/s Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd., district Bijnor, (iii) M/s Dhampur Distillery Unit, district Bijnor and (iv) M/s Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd., Meerganj, district Bareilly to pay environmental compensation of Rs. 5 crore each within a period of 30 days.

To know about the damage caused to the environment by these sugar units, the NGT directed the constitution of a committee. The committee would assess the damage caused to the environment which included contamination of the river Sot and river Peelakhar as well as the damage caused due to air pollution by the units.

The Committee would also interact with the farmers and local inhabitants who may have suffered loss/ damage because of pollution caused by the units. It shall thus, assess the compensation not only for the loss and damage caused to the local inhabitants but also for the cost of remediation and submit its report to the Chairman, CPCB within a period of three months.