Judgment of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) in the matter of Banothu Nandu Nayak Vs Singareni Collieries Company Limited dated 06/5/2022.

The matter is related to violation of environmental norms by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). The grievance was that Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) in Sathupalli, Khammam district, Telangana a government owned public sector undertaking corporation dealing with opencast coal mining has conducted their operation without necessary clearances and also in violation of the conditions of the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted and also doing excess mining, causing pollution to the neighbouring water bodies and properties of the residents of the locality both air and sound. Damage was caused on account of indiscriminate unscientific manner in which blasting was being done. Though there was a condition not to transport coal by road, they are violating with the conditions without complying with the pollution control mechanism.

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The NGT directed SCCL to pay Rs. 41.21 crores as compensation for excess mining done by them and this amount will have to be paid to the Telangana State Pollution Control Board within a period of 3 months.