#environmental compensation

The Uttarakhand High Court set aside Pollution Control Board notices demanding environmental compensation because the Board failed to give the affected party notice and a hearing, breaching Rule 46 and natural-justice principles. The decision mandates that any authority must follow due-process before imposing compensation liabilities, impacting polluters and other parties facing PCB compensation claims.

The Supreme Court ordered the Ministry of Environment to issue binding guidelines on environmental compensation under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The ruling gives statutory force to the Central Implementation Committee and entrenches the polluter-pays principle for waste-generating parties.

National Green Tribunal Southern Zone reinstated a jaggery unit's Consent to Operate after verifying compliance with Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act land-use norms and TNPCB environmental safeguards. The ruling underscores strict scrutiny of unauthorized industrial activity on agricultural land despite pending land classification.

The National Green Tribunal ruled that an oral inspection notice under Section 21(3) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act is legally sufficient only when an authorized agent of the unit is present and does not object, reinforcing procedural fairness in pollution enforcement. This clarifies the threshold for admissibility of environmental samples and invalidates compensation calculated on flawed default periods without proper notice.

NGT Central Zone holds Alwar Nagar Nigam and District Magistrate liable for failing to operationalize the waste treatment plant for over four years, violating SWM Rules 2016. The tribunal mandates environmental compensation, completion of a mechanized transfer station, and issuance of a Consent to Operate (CTO) within deadlines, reinforcing the 'Polluter Pays Principle' for municipal bodies.

NGT imposes strict liability on industrial occupiers for hazardous waste fires, mandating environmental compensation and a technical committee inquiry into regulatory compliance. The ruling underscores non-delegable duty for safe waste handling under Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016, impacting industries storing or processing hazardous materials.

The Rajasthan High Court has ordered a recalculation of environmental compensation after the industry proved its furnace was shut down and demolished before the penalty period ended. This sets a critical precedent: regulatory penalties must reflect actual operational conduct, not presumed pollution duration, ensuring fairness under procedural due process for polluting industries facing enforcement.

Patna High Court sets aside a ₹12.2 lakh environmental compensation order, ruling that the Bihar State Pollution Control Board violated principles of natural justice by conducting non-transparent inspections. The Court mandates videography and public disclosure of inspection reports under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974, reinforcing procedural fairness in environmental adjudication.

The National Green Tribunal ruled that supply chain gaps do not exempt thermal power plants from mandatory biomass co-firing under the CAQM Act. Panipat Thermal Power Station was held liable for ₹8.98 crore in environmental compensation, reinforcing that regulatory compliance cannot be circumvented by logistical challenges.

NGT rules that construction on the Ganga floodplain without NMCG approval violates the River Ganga Rejuvenation Order, 2016, and imposes environmental compensation. The judgment mandates joint inspections and underscores the statutory duty of authorities to prevent unauthorized development in protected zones, affecting infrastructure projects and environmental compliance nationwide.

NGT confirms that soil mining beyond 2m depth remains illegal even for linear projects exempted from Environmental Clearance (EC). The Tribunal mandates environmental compensation and remediation, setting a precedent for balancing infrastructure development with ecological protection. The ruling impacts project proponents, state authorities, and landowners in linear infrastructure projects.

NGT Southern Zone directs immediate bio-mining of 18-year-old unsegregated waste dumped in a Kerala quarry, holding the local panchayat and state authorities liable for environmental restoration. The Rs. 60 lakh compensation must be utilized strictly for remediation, reinforcing compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and local body accountability for legacy dumping sites.

National Green Tribunal upholds environmental compensation scheme for Morbi ceramic industries, clarifying that collective liability must be grounded in individualized assessment under the polluter pays principle.

National Green Tribunal holds that environmental compensation funds must result in concrete ecological restoration, not procedural delays. Afforestation must be documented and monitored.

NGT holds sugar factory liable for environmental damage under Polluter Pays Principle, ordering Rs. 1.06 crore compensation and mandatory remediation measures.