Environmental Impact Assessment: Hefty Penalty for violating environmental laws

IOCL’s Panipat Refinery fined Rs. 17.31 Cr by NGT for causing Air and Water pollution

•     Residents around the IOCL Panipat Refinery approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to raise complaints against the havoc environmental pollution and health injury caused by the concerned refinery;

•     A joint Committee comprising of the Central Pollution Control Board, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and the Joint Commissioner, Panipat, investigated the allegations made by the residents which revealed that the refinery had been flouting several environmental laws

•     Based on the Committee’s report, NGT imposed a penalty of Rs. 17.31 Cr on IOCL

•     The penalty raised shall be used in restoring the damages caused by the refinery.

•    While adjudicating the matter, NGT has also directed HSPCB to take further action against the company as per THE law.

Compliance Takeaway: Government has a very strict approach towards compliance. Whether private / public bodies none can escape the penalties for flouting any law. Compliance shall be taken very seriously else companies shall end up paying hefty penalties to imprisonment for deviations.

EODB: Tamil Nadu State Government to rollout Business Reform Action Plan for construction projects.

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority proposes single window clearance for new projects

The action came in view of 20 projects which are stuck with the State Government due to numerous clearances required for them to kick off. Initiative is to attract investors and businesses to come to Chennai.

Efforts are being made to

•  Provide for online application with integrated payment, thus eliminating the need for physical submission and verification of data;

•    Provide for a single window system for granting construction permits by way of online integrated application for all necessary NOCs and certificates;

•    Provide for auto scrutinization of business plans from the compliance perspective;

•    Develop an online information wizard where one can also track their application status.

•    Provide a maximum timeline of 45 days for granting the permissions.