Order of the Supreme Court in the matter of Northern Coalfields Ltd Bina Project Vs Union of India & Others dated 15/09/2023.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), April 4, 2023 had directed Northern Coalfields to pay compensation of Rs 10 crores for violation of environmental norms by dumping of coal in the vicinity of residential area at Krishnashila railway siding, Bina, Shaktinagar, district Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, which is the land of the Northern Coal Field Limited. Coal has been dumped without any permission and is accumulated through illegal transportation from coal fields.

NCL appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) against the NGT order.

The Supreme Court, September 15, 2023 directed Northern Coalfields Ltd. (Bina Project) and East Central Railway to give details by way of an affidavit of the alleged purchaser of coal who had dumped coal in the area. Northern Coalfields will also file the latest aerial/satellite photographs of the area. The pollution level monitoring being done by Northern Coalfields (Bina Project) and the authorities including the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has to be placed on record.

In addition, East Central Railway would also indicate the steps taken by them to ensure that coal is not stacked around the railway tracks and that ambient air quality is maintained. Northern Coalfields was directed to deposit Rs 2 crores with the authorities. Subject to the payment and compliance of the directions and those in the National Green Tribunal judgment, there will be stay of operation of the NGT judgment to the extent it directs Northern Coalfields to make payment of Rs 10 crores, the SC order said.