NGT fines Rs 10 crore on pharmaceutical company Teva API, Health News, ET HealthWorld

The National Green Tribunal has fined a pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Amroha district, Uttar Pradesh, rupee 10 crore for violating environmental standards. A bench led by NGT Chairman Judge Adarsh ​​Kumar Goel said it was surprising to note that a large global company like Teva API Ltd operating a dangerous business of manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) operates without adequate guarantees and does not care about violation of environmental standards. .

The court said that the violation of illegal underground water extraction is clearly established along the pollution of the drain.

There is also a violation of safety standards and simple denial is not enough, NGT said, adding that the unit should be required to pay compensation for violations to cover the cost of restoring the environment. and also to take corrective measures to prevent such violations. occurrences in the future.

“Taking into account the nature of the violations in the present case and the financial capacity of the unit in question, we determine the amount of compensation at Rs 10 crore, an amount that can be deposited with the district magistrate within a period of ‘a month.

“The district magistrate may keep the amount in a separate account to be spent on environmental restoration by preparing an action plan for groundwater augmentation, afforestation, landscaping, drain restoration and off-site contingency plans, ”the bench said.

The action plan for the use of the amount can be prepared within one month in consultation with the oversight committee established by this court under the chairmanship of Judge SVS Rathore, former judge of the Allahabad High Court in Lucknow, the court said.

The oversight committee may also oversee the use of the amount for environmental restoration in an appropriate manner.

“The use can be ensured within six months. The joint committee of CPCB, state PCB and district magistrate can also ensure that the necessary measures are adopted by the factory to avoid any violation. safety standards in the future, “the judiciary said.

Regarding the death of a certain Mohit Ranjan due to a gas leak on December 6, 2020, the NGT ordered Shalabh Mathur, DIG, Moradabad to submit a factual report to the monitoring committee with a copy to the magistrate of the district and the project developer.

“If the death is attributable to the activities of the unit, the unit can ensure payment of the compensation required under the Workers’ Compensation Act 1923 within one month, failing which the Moradabad district magistrate can ensure the payment of compensation of at least Rs. 20 las to the next of kin of the deceased, the amount of which can be recovered from the unit.

“If the unit is prejudiced by DIG Moradabad’s report on this aspect, it will be free to move this Tribunal into the case by way of an interim request. Statutory authorities can maintain strict vigilance to prevent such events.” said NGT.

The court heard a plea filed by Jitendra Singh, a UP resident, alleging that gas leak incidents took place on June 7 and 10, 2020, from Teva API Pvt. Ltd., Chandpur Road, Gajraula, Amroha District, Uttar Pradesh.

The plea alleged that the pharmaceutical manufacturing company was operating in violation of environmental standards and that the gas leaks affected public health.