NGT Pune Orders Sugar Factory to Pay Rs 50.10 Lakh for River Pollution
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench in Pune has issued a stern directive to the Appasaheb Nalawade Gadhinglaj Taluka Cooperative Sugar Factory located in Kolhapur district. The factory has been ordered to deposit a substantial sum of Rs 50.10 lakh as environmental damage compensation (EDC) with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) within a strict deadline of one month. This penalty is a direct consequence of the factory's actions in polluting the Hiranyakeshi River by discharging untreated industrial effluent.
Judicial Order and Restoration Mandate
A bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Sujit Kumar Bajpayee delivered this significant order on March 23. The tribunal has mandated that the MPCB must utilize the deposited compensation amount specifically for environmental restoration activities at the affected site. This restoration work must be completed within a period of six months from the receipt of funds.
The bench explicitly stated: "A report in this regard shall be submitted by MPCB to the Registry of this Tribunal within one month after utilising the said amount of EDC." This ensures accountability and transparency in the use of the compensation for ecological recovery.
Petitioner's Allegations and Committee Findings
The case was brought to the NGT by petitioner Shahu Shivaji Modak, who alleged that the sugar factory was routinely releasing molasses and other harmful effluents directly into the Hiranyakeshi River. This pollution was reported to have contaminated both surface water and groundwater resources, posing severe health risks to local residents and animals dependent on these water sources.
Following an earlier NGT order dated April 18, 2022, a joint committee was formed to investigate the allegations. This committee included representatives from the MPCB, relevant state departments, and the district administration. The committee conducted a thorough site inspection on June 6, 2022.
The inspection revealed multiple critical deficiencies in the factory's environmental management systems:
- The effluent treatment system was found to be functioning inadequately, with certain units of the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) not operating properly.
- Untreated or only partially treated effluent was being stored in lagoons situated near the factory premises.
- These storage lagoons posed a significant risk of overflow into nearby drains that lead directly to the Hiranykeshi River, particularly during the monsoon season when rainfall increases.
Compensation Calculation and Factory's Defense
Based on the committee's findings and documented violations over multiple days of operation, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board calculated the environmental damage compensation. The MPCB submitted a detailed affidavit to the tribunal on March 20, outlining the basis for the Rs 50.10 lakh penalty.
In its defense, the sugar factory sought a waiver or reduction of the compensation amount, citing financial constraints. The factory argued that violations had occurred only over a period of eight days when pollution levels exceeded permissible limits. Additionally, the factory contended that its own analytical reports had not been properly considered by the MPCB during the assessment process.
Tribunal's Firm Rejection of Pleas
The NGT bench firmly rejected all arguments presented by the sugar factory. The tribunal stated: "We cannot disbelieve the above averment of MPCB, as it has clearly stated that an opportunity of hearing was provided to the project proponent, during which, no such averment was made by the respondent No.1 (sugar factory). They are claiming that the readings were within limits except for eight days. We are in agreement with the affidavit filed by MPCB dated March 20, 2026, whereby the details have been given for the calculation of the EDC amount, which we have cited above."
This ruling underscores the tribunal's commitment to holding industrial units accountable for environmental violations and ensuring that polluters bear the financial responsibility for ecological restoration.
