No relief to Ceramic units of Morbi over fine over coal gasifier use

Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court has rejected a plea filed by the ceramic units of Morbi regarding the interim penalty of Rs 5 thousand per day by Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for coal-based production using coal gasifiers.

GPCB had charged an interim penalty of Rs 5 thousand per day to around 600 ceramic units of Morbi for the usage of coal gasifiers despite the denial of the National Green Tribunal. The ceramic units had complained by a writ in high court that the penalty was charged without giving a chance of hearing. The High Court rejected the arguments and ordered the units to pay the penalty. The High Court ordered that 25 percent of the penalty is to be paid to GPCB. The High Court stated that they are supposed to pay the penalty due to damages to the environment by them.

The process of deciding the final penalty amount by the three institutions namely National Environment Engineering Research Institute, Indian Institute of Public Health and Advanced Materials and Process Research Institute is ongoing.