Respite for association of dyers

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 30

Coming to the rescue of the Punjab Dyers Association, the National Green Tribunal has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the State of Punjab to file an affidavit about the amount deposited to date (the subsidy which was to be given for setting up two common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) in Ludhiana) and the remaining amount to be deposited within three weeks.

A hearing in the case was held by the NGT today. Advocate IK Kapila was present on behalf of the association.

In his orders, Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore said no one had represented from the Ministry of Environment and the State of Punjab yesterday, who had to pay the amount to the applicant (dyers) as directed earlier by the Tribunal. So the officer concerned was called from the ministry and the Member Secretary PPCB appeared as the matter was placed today.

The counsel for the applicant submitted that the amount of Rs 15 crore was to be paid by the Ministry of Environment while Rs 7.5 crore was to be paid by the state of Punjab, which had not been released.

Justice Rathore said in this case, the issue with regard to payment of this amount had been pending for a long time and applications after applications had been filed.

Justice Rathore further directed both the Ministry of Environment and the State of Punjab to file a personal affidavit respectively as to how much amount as per the direction of the Tribunal had been paid and that the remaining amount would be paid within three weeks from today.

The affidavit will be filed within a week. In case payments are not made, then consequence of non-compliance of the order of the Tribunal shall follow in accordance as per law against deponents who will be filing affidavits, ordered Justice Rathore.