State Pollution Control Board face NGT wrath for leniency to coke plants

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 12, 2022

Coke plants operating without environmental clearances are illegal, the National Green Tribunal Eastern Zone Kolkata on Thursday ordered the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board two weeks time to file affidavit showing what action has been taken against the defaulting/illegal Coke Plants in East Jaintia Hills District.

The order was issued by the Tribunal during the hearing of the petition filed by Pynbait Sutnga versus State of Meghalaya & Ors.

According to the Tribunal, if the affidavit is not filed by 27th of this month, the Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board shall be present physically in court on the next date of listing with his personal affidavit.

On the affidavit dated 10.05.2022 filed Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, the Tribunal viewed that the said affidavit does not show Environmental Compensation to have been computed against the violators of environmental norms who are operating the Coke Plants.

The affidavit also shows that two Coke Plants namely M/s Jaintia Coke Industries and M/s Vivan Associate in East Jaintia Hills District could not be inspected and therefore another day has been fixed.

On the five other Coke Units also it is stated that inspection could not be carried out since complaints filed against them were based on violation of Consent to Establish (CTE) and not violation of Consent to Operate (CTO) and they were found to have initiated constructions/minor constructions like leveling of the land etc., prior to obtaining Consent to Establish (CTE).

The Tribunal observed that operating Coke Plant without Environmental Clearance are all violations of environmental norms under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The affidavit of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board gives the Tribunal the impression that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board is only giving time to the violators of law to cover up their tracks due to which reasons inspection were not conducted promptly.