Chennai: The National Green Tribunal has asked the Thoothukudi district collector to ensure compliance of the recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board to handle the hazardous situation, to ensure public safety.
“Any failure will invite coercive action” said the principal bench of NGT, New Delhi, in its order.
The bench said during the hearing, it was submitted on behalf of the appellant that recommendations of the CPCB could not be carried out for safety measures on account of non-co-operation of the district administration.
If it is so, the district administration has, by not cooperating in complying with the directions passed in this tribunal’s earlier orders for carrying out the recommendations of the CPCB to handle the hazardous situation, has virtually put the public safety at risk. The collector, Thoothukudi district, may now ensure compliance forthwith to ensure public safety, the bench added.
The bench said during the hearing, senior counsel for the appellant made a statement that the appellant was willing to spend further amount of ' 100 crore for welfare activities for the inhabitants of the area as a goodwill measure.
The amount may be spent on projects like water supply, hospital and health services and skill development in the area. “We take the statement on record and in view of the said statement, we direct the appellant unit to spend the amount of ' Rs 100 crore within a period of three years for welfare of the inhabitants in the area. The action plan prepared for utilization of the amount be approved from ministry of environment, forest and climate change which may also oversee the compliance thereof. Such action plan and progress achieved in implementation of said plan may also be uploaded on the said website for the purpose of dissemination”, the bench added.
