Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of M/s Virat Alloys (P) Ltd. Vs Gujarat Pollution Control Board dated 18/03/2021.

The appeal was preferred against the order of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board of January 12, 2021 - which directed closure of Virat Alloys (appellant unit) and requiring it to pay environmental compensation for the damage to the environment. The impugned order mentioned that the local Police detected a dump of acidic hazardous waste outside the premises of the unit. Based on the said information, the office of the state PCB visited the site on January 24, 2020 and found that the appellant had unauthorizedly stored/disposed of acidic hazardous waste outside the unit thereby violating the rules and conditions of CC&A. Accordingly, the order of September 10, 2020 was passed requiring the appellant to pay environment compensation.

The court said that the contamination of the site has been duly established and for the period prior to remediation, the unit was liable to pay compensation. However, there was lack of clarity about the basis of compensation. The NGT directed the Gujarat Pollution Control Board to pass a fresh order, within a period of two months.