Berhampur: Taking strong exception to non-compliance of its earlier order on shutdown of country-liquor units in Ganjam district, the Kolkata National Green Tribunal (NGT) has levied a Rs 45lakh penalty on the Ganjam administration.
The district collector, SP of Excise department and the State pollution control board (SPCB) were directed to deposit the amount by July 3, 2018.
Despite repeated warnings from the NGT, the district administration hardly did anything to shut down the liquor shops. Earlier, the tribunal had ordered a shutdown of all the country-liquor units in the district for non-compliance of environment norms. However, this order was not carried out, drawing resentment from the NGT.
Ten complaints were lodged with the NGT over illegal liquor sale in the district. Out of 10, nine were heard by the NGT bench before an order was issued. In the order, the tribunal has asked the SPCB, Ganjam collector and SP to pay the penalty.
As many as 79 country liquor units were in operation in Ganjam district without mandatory environment clearance from the SPCB. The unauthorised units are a constant source of pollution. The NGT had, in an earlier order, issued a directive for closure of the illegal units in Ganjam district. However, the order was not carried out.
The NGT maintained that no liquor unit of the present kind could be permitted to run without obtaining environment clearance (EC), which is mandatory under law. According to law, these units had to take air and water pollution clearance before they started their operations. But the units in Ganjam have failed to do so.
