Pune: The National Green Tribunal bench in Pune has directed the Sahakar Maharshi Shivajirao Narayanrao Nagawade Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd in Shrigonda taluka of Ahilyanagar district to deposit Rs 1.06 crore with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board for causing pollution in the Ghod river due to the discharge of untreated waste and a molasses plant accident, The Times of India reported.
In its order issued on Tuesday, the bench, comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, said the compensation amount would be used to restore and improve the affected site. The tribunal also directed the sugar cooperative to spend Rs 75 lakh on preventive measures and Rs 51 lakh on remedial steps, as assessed by experts from the Vasantdada Sugar Institute.
The tribunal further asked the pollution control board to prepare and issue a Standard Operating Procedure within three months, in consultation with other authorities, to scientifically assess crop and agricultural damage in the event of any industrial accident in the future.
The case was filed by farmer Sachin Sudamrao Pachpute from Kashti village in the affected area through advocate Tanaji Gambhire. He sought directions to shut down the sugar unit until full environmental restoration measures were undertaken.
In his plea, the farmer highlighted damage to agricultural fields caused by untreated wastewater and molasses that spilled following an accident on February 12, 2022. He claimed that an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 metric tonnes of molasses flowed into nearby farmlands after the incident.
Apart from the sugar cooperative, the petition named the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the Ahilyanagar district collector as respondents. A report by an expert panel from the Vasantdada Sugar Institute pointed out shortcomings in the functioning of the sugar unit and its associated distillery.
