Punjab pollution control board slaps Rs 12 crore penalty on Bathinda unit

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 11.88 crore on National Fertilizer Limited (NFL) in Bathinda for causing environmental damage through “intentional and deliberate” violations of Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

The board acted on directions from National Green Tribunal (NGT), which expressed displeasure over NFL’s continued and unjustified storage of carbon slurry . The tribunal noted PPCB had not imposed environmental compensation or prosecuted officers/officials responsible. These observations were made by the tribunal in a case filed by a worker at NFL who approached NGT with concerns over violations of environmental norms in handling carbon and hazardous waste.

The applicant sought measures to safeguard environment and labourers’ lives.
The industry was granted authorisation by the board under the provisions of Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, on Oct 3, 2023, valid until March 31, 2024. This authorisation covered generation, collection, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste, including carbon slurry.

Aspecific condition of authorisation required industry to ensure the removal of at least 6,400 MT of carbon slurry by March 31, 2023, and to completely clear the stored hazardous waste of carbon slurry by Sept 30, 2026.

The board referenced the industry’s response submitted to the tribunal, which revealed that a large quantity of carbon slurry—previously considered a byproduct of fertilizer manufacturing but now classified as hazardous waste under the rules—was being stored by NFL, Bathinda. The industry acknowledged it had stored carbon slurry in compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines, and claimed to have taken all necessary precautions.

After reviewing facts, the board issued a notice to the industry, providing an opportunity for a hearing before the board’s chairman. During this hearing, industry representa- tives reiterated their stance. Subsequently, it was decided that the environmental engineer of the regional office in Bathinda would calculate the amount of environmental compensation to be imposed on the industry in accordance with the law, due to the unjustified continued storage of carbon slurry.

The industry was also directed to dispose of its entire hazardous waste as soon as possible, using all available means, in compliance with the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. Additionally, they were instructed to submit a monthly report on the matter to the regional office in Bathinda.

Upon examining the case, a committee of officers constituted by the board concluded NFL had caused environmental degradation by intentionally and deliberately violating provisions of the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules , 2016. The committee cited the principles of Precaution, Sustainable Development, and Polluter Pay, which form the basis for environmental compensation. According to the methodology and scale developed by Central Pollution Control Board and adopted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board, the compensation was calculated to be Rs 11.88 crore, as stated in the order issued on Oct 11.