The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its order has not specified the fine amount that will be slapped on the Jharkhand Government for violating environment protection norms in construction of the new Legislative Assembly and high court buildings, further stating that the fine amount was subject to assessment by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — a development that has caused a lack of clarity over the fine amount of Rs 130 crore mentioned in several media reports recently.
Member Secretary of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB), Rajiv Lochan Bakshi on Saturday said that the CPCB has not sent any official communique to the JSPCB specifying the fine amount. “We have not received any order from the CPCB regarding the fine amount for violation of norms in the construction of the High Court and the Legislative Assembly buildings,” Bakshi said.
The NGT recently ordered action against officials in Jharkhand for starting construction of the new High Court building and the Legislative Assembly building without environment clearance. The principal bench of the tribunal, comprising Justice SP Wangdi and expert member Nagin Nanda, ordered a ban on all ongoing constructions that do not have clearance.
“Environmental compensation shall be assessed in respect of all the structures which have been raised without EC and shall be recovered from the appropriate authorities/persons/ builders/project proponent within a period of three months. Environment compensation with respect of those which have already been assessed shall also be recovered within the said period,” the NGT order said.
The petitioner in the case, RK Singh, clarified that the compensation amount for the two buildings was already decided by the CPCB and submitted to the High
Court during the proceedings of the case.
However, no document was available to establish that the fine amount was Rs.130 crore as mentioned so far in most media reports. “The amount may further increase as the fine is calculated on per day basis. A fine of over Rs.56,000 is added to the total amount per day for buildings that are yet to get EC,” said Singh.
“The CPCB has already assessed the buildings and decided the amount of Rs.130 crore. The fine is Rs.49 crore for the Legislative Assembly and Rs.81 crore for the High Court building,” said he.
The NGT order, uploaded recently on the official website of the tribunal, states, “Action to be taken against the violators and payment of environmental compensation assessed by the CPCB for environmental damage caused due to constructions” should be made.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had on Thursday said that the Government was waiting for the official order of the NGT to proceed with
the matter.
Talking to media persons, he said, “We will decide how to go ahead with the issue once we receive a copy of the official order. There are set
parameters that should be followed for taking up such projects, and everyone should abide by the rules.”
Meanwhile, the matter has gained political relevance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) blaming the former NDA-led Government in Jharkhand for the lapses and demanding that the fine should be slapped on the ones responsible for the lapses.
The construction of the buildings started during a BJP-led government in Jharkhand, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated one of them.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo on Saturday said that the order can be challenged in Supreme Court and the fine amount may also vary.