NGT imposes Rs 18.35 cr fine on HPCL-Visakh Refinery for green violations

The National Green Tribunal has imposed a Rs 18.35 crore fine on Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)-Visakh Refinery over violation of environmental norms.

Dealing a plea moved by Visakha Pawan Praja Karmika Sangham, the tribunal’s southern zone bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Expert Member Saibal Dasgupta, in its Thursday order, said there is merit in the recommendations of the Joint Committee that HPCL had failed to take effective steps despite the long period between 2011 and 2020.

“HPCL being a CPSE industry carrying out public utility services has to be a model unit of compliance with the environmental norms which was unfortunately not there in this case for more than a decade,” the bench noted.