NGT slaps compensation on SCCL for excess mining

Joint committee, TSPCB told to come up with further reports

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) to pay environmental compensation for the excess coal mined from the JVR OC-I mine and extract coal only to the extent of environmental clearance. It has also made it clear that the company could go for additional quantity of coal extraction only after getting separate clearance for it. Hearing the proceedings in a petition filed by B. Nandu Nailk, O. Srinivas Reddy and others last week virtually on excess mining done by the Singareni leading to large-scale environmental harm, the Southern Zone Bench of NGT has directed the joint committee that investigated into the aspect to file further report by considering compensation to be paid by the mining company for the excess mining done already. The NGT Bench comprising Judicial member K. Ramakrishnan and expert member K. Satyagopal observed that seeking bank guarantee of ₹26.67 crore as performance guarantee for doing certain works is different from assessing environmental compensation for the violation of excess mining and both stand on a different footing.