Excessive mining in Ropar: NHAI, contractors to pay Rs 85L environmental compensation
Rajmeet Singh
Chandigarh, July 22
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and some private contractors have been told to pay Rs 85.87 lakh environmental compensation for causing damage to the environment by undertaking excessive mining in Ropar for the construction of the Jammu-Katra Expressway.
The environmental compensation is in addition to Rs 62.75 lakh fine imposed for excavating excess construction material for the project.
Consent to operate not obtained
- The environmental compensation is in addition to Rs 62.75 lakh fine imposed for excavating excess construction material for the project
- The NHAI had obtained environmental clearance from the Centre for the development of the national highway from Ludhiana to Ropar
- However, consent to operate was not obtained under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
A joint committee comprising officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the District Magistrate, Ropar, noticed several violations of environmental laws by M/s Ceigall India, a company engaged for the construction of the expressway.
The matter came up for hearing before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) after Balwinder Kaur of Patheri Jattan village in Ropar approached it. She claimed that illegal mining was being conducted on the agricultural land adjacent to the forest land where thousands of trees faced the risk of being damaged due to mining.
After verifying the facts, the Department of Mining and Geology imposed a fine of Rs 62.75 lakh for excessive mining.
In its reply before the NGT, the Punjab Pollution Control Board said a fine for excessive mining was imposed and recovered by the Mining Department. The issue of environmental damage was assessed separately and environmental compensation of Rs 85.87 lakh imposed on the NHAI and the private contractors concerned.
In fact, the NHAI had engaged IRCON International Limited, which further engaged Ceigall India for the project. The NHAI had obtained environmental clearance from the Centre for the development of the national highway from Ludhiana to Ropar.
However, the consent to operate was not obtained under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Apart from asking the NHAI to apply for consent to operate under the said two laws, orders have been issued for the payment of environmental compensation.
