Judgement of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Aswini Kumar Dhal Vs Odisha Pollution Control Board & Others dated 25/05/2016 regarding severe air and water pollution caused by a railway siding/stack yard in Jakhpura railway station Jajpur district, Odisha.

NGT finds the East-Coast Railway under which the Jakhpura railway station comes has committed breach of both the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 and contributed to air and water pollution in the area. Thus the East Coast Railway is liable to pay environmental compensation on the principle of “Polluter Pays”. Therefore, the Court directs the East Coast Railway Division at Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, under whose authority the illegal railway siding was in operation at Jakhapura railway station, to pay environmental compensation of Rs. 50.00 lakhs @ Rs. 10.00 lakhs per annum for the five years of violation of Environmental norms, which shall be paid within a period of two months.