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The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) faces criticism as it has reportedly only managed to collect Rs 4 crore of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) hefty Rs 200 crore fine imposed on more than 160 Bengaluru apartment complexes and commercial establishments since 2000. The penalties were a consequence of these entities failing to adhere to sewage treatment plans. Despite the NGT's stringent actions, the KSPCB has struggled to enforce the collection of fines, revealing a significant gap in implementation.
Forest, Environment, and Ecology Minister Eshwar B Khandre disclosed the poor enforcement scenario. He pointed to legal hurdles as the primary obstacle, preventing officials from progressing with the recovery of pending fines from apartment complexes.
The minister lamented that the officials are encountering challenges due to builders selling off the apartments and evading responsibility. The middle-class citizens who have purchased these apartments are reportedly refusing to pay the fines and have even contested the issue in court. The KSPCB is now working within the legal framework to address the crisis and recover the pending penalties.
Khandre highlighted that the NGT had initially set a deadline of December 2023 for the establishment of sewage treatment plants in the penalized establishments. However, this deadline has now been extended by one more year i.e., until December 2024, providing an extended timeframe for compliance.
The situation underscores the challenges in ensuring environmental compliance and financial accountability, emphasizing the need for robust mechanisms to enforce penalties and hold responsible parties accountable. The KSPCB's efforts to navigate legal complexities and recover the pending fines will be crucial in upholding environmental standards and penalizing non-compliance effectively.
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