The National Green Tribunal has directed the East Coast Railway to pay Rs. 50 lakh for operating Jakhapura Railway Siding in Jajpur district without taking consent from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board.
Hearing a petition, the tribunal asked the East Coast Railway to pay the amount within two months to Jajpur district collector for development of periphery area of the railway siding.
The Tribunal has invoked its ‘Polluter Pays’ principle to impose fine on the Railways.
It has also directed the Railways to pay an additional one lakh rupee to the petitioner as the litigation cost.