National/ Punjab Desk
20 September
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Supreme Court has temporarily halted the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order, which directed the Punjab government to pay over Rs 1,000 crore for failing to manage waste and untreated sewage. The NGT’s July 25 ruling had ordered the Punjab government to deposit Rs 10,261,908,000 within a month as a penalty for environmental damage.
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, stayed the NGT’s decision and issued a notice to the Central Government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Punjab government had appealed the NGT’s order, arguing against the hefty fine.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Punjab government, raised concerns regarding the imposition of the environmental damages. The Supreme Court’s stay offers temporary relief to the state, which now has the opportunity to further present its case.
The fine was originally imposed for the state’s failure to adequately manage solid waste and untreated sewage, which has been contributing to environmental degradation in Punjab. The case will now be further examined, with the Center and CPCB required to respond to the Supreme Court’s notice.