Complete plant in 18 months, else pay Rs 50k a day, says NGT

New Delhi, December 12

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday ordered for the completion of a waste-to-energy plant in Jammu and Kashmir within 18 months, after which Rs 50,000 per day will be charged from the contractors.

The 5-megawatt power plant at Achan in Srinagar district will be used to utilise dumped biomass to generate electricity.

Disposing of the case on Tuesday, the NGT said the construction work on the plant at Achan — the first one in Jammu and Kashmir — should start within a week of signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA) with the state government.

Ever since the process was started in 2013, several contractors have left due to various reasons.

“Complete the plant within 18 months of signing the PPA. The document is already with the state government. Let that be done expeditiously,” NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered.

“In case of delay beyond the contract period of 18 months, Rs 50,000 per day shall be charged as environment compensation,” the bench said, adding that the fine would be applied for the default period. — IANS