CHENNAI: The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore against the Tamil Nadu government for failing to protect the environment in the past. The compensation would be utilised to restore the water bodies, particularly Cooum, Buckingham canal and Adyar River.The state government had undertaken before the tribunal that it would adhere to the action plan to revive the waterbodies within 36 months from April 2015. However, it failed to comply with it. “In view of the consistent failure of the state so far, we are tentatively inclined to require the State of Tamil Nadu to pay a sum of Rs 100 crore as compensation for damage to the environment with the Central Pollution Control Board ( CPCB ) for the past failures in preventing damage to the environment,” the principal bench’s order said.The chief secretary of the state has also been summoned to appear before the tribunal on April 23 with a detailed action taken report, besides constituting a joint committee (JC) to access the cause and quantum of damage to the environment. It has also directed the committee headed by the CS to submit quarterly reports in this regard and the first report should be submitted on or before May 31. The order was passed by the chairperson of the principal tribunal, Adarsh Kumar Goel.Bearing the brunt of garbage, discharge of sewage, defecation and encroachment of the banks, the Adyar river, once a thriving waterway, has been reduced to a stinking watercourse, said the order and added that it revealed that the authorities have turned a blind eye to the damage meted out and made negligible progress in the Rs 600 crore river restoration project that was launched in 2015. The project aimed to revive Adyar river, Cooum and Buckingham canal.The government machinery is required to compensate “for negligence and failure” that would be deterrent against the officers who had failed to “perform their basic duty to protect the environment or colluded with the polluter or violators of the law”.Welcoming the NGT’s order, one of the petitioners Jawarlal Shanmugam said that it was a path-breaking order. It shows the serious approach of the tribunal for a better future. It would set things right, if the order is put into practice by spirit and letter by the authorities.He also appreciated the tribunal for constituting the JC comprising experts from the Centre and state pollution control boards, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Madras School of Economics and National Environment Engineering Institute (NEERI) to monitor the action and inaction of the authorities in restoring the environment.TNSPCB would act as the odal agency and assist the committee to carry out its task. It has been asked to submit its report within three months.“After comprehensive hearing today, we are of the view that the magnitude of the damage to the environment is huge and there has been a long history of consistent failures of the state of Tamil Nadu and its authorities. The quantum of compensation to be recovered for the past failure and the amount of performance guarantee to be taken is required to the above extent to ensure compliance in future,” the order stated.Apart from this, the tribunal stated that it dealt with 351 polluted water bodies in the country and required action to revive them. It has also directed the CS of all the state government and UTs to appear before it on specified dates with action taken report to restore the environment in their respective state/UT.

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