The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped an interim penalty of Rs 17.31 crore on Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s Panipat refinery for violation of environmental norms.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed that the amount may be deposited by the unit with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within a month by way of interim compensation for restoration of the environment, subject to further orders.
“We find that there is adequate material on record to hold that there is violation of environmental norms by IOCL. The inspection was carried out by the credible experts of the regulatory authorities, namely, the CPCB, the HSPCB (Haryana State Pollution Control Board) under the direction of this tribunal. The response of the unit itself shows that observations in the inspection report needed action on account of which an action plan has been submitted,” the bench said.
