NGT slaps Rs 5 lakh fine on Meerut Hospital for environmental violations

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 5 lakh on Yashoda Hospital in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, for operating illegally without the necessary statutory consent under environmental laws. The decision followed a letter petition alleging the hospital's non-compliance with required regulations. 

On February 20, the tribunal established a joint committee to investigate the matter, which included representatives from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), the Meerut District Magistrate, the Chief Medical Officer, and the municipal corporation commissioner.

According to the PTI report, in a recent order, a bench of judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahamad noted the report, as per which, the district medical officials had inspected the hospital and its registration was cancelled because of non-compliance of medical regulations on November 25, 2023.

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"Since the hospital was lying closed, compliance of water and air pollution could be observed by the joint committee," the bench said noting the report.

Noting the evidence before it, the tribunal said before being closed, the hospital operated without the statutory consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.

It said, "We are also informed that an effluent treatment plant of 2 kilolitres per day (KLD) has been installed in the hospital premises for the treatment of effluent but for the said plant no consent has been obtained from the statutory authorities. In view thereof, it is clear that for substantial period hospital had functioned illegally and in violation of environmental laws causing damage to the environment", news agency PTI reported.

The tribunal noted that the hospital had also installed a diesel generator set without obtaining consent under the Air Act.

It said, "In these facts and circumstances, we are clearly of the view that the project proponent is liable to pay environmental compensation by application of the 'Polluter Pays' principle."

It directed the hospital to pay Rs 5 lakh as environmental compensation within two months to the UPPCB for past violations, adds PTI.

"The amount of environmental compensation shall be utilised for remediation, restoration and rejuvenation of the environment in accordance with the restoration plan which shall be prepared within one month by a joint committee," the tribunal said.

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