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Private company fined for environmental issue

The Principal bench of the National Green tribunal (NGT) today directed Delta Marine Shipping Company (Delta Shipping Marine Services SA and sister concerns) and Adani Enterprises Ltd. to pay Rs 100 crore and Rs 5 crore respectively as compensation for causing damage to the marine environment.

The bench, headed by Chairperson Swatanter Kumar made the determination on an application made by Mumbai resident, Samir Mehta for environmental pollution caused by the sinking of Delta carrier MV RAK around 20 nautical miles of the coast of Mumbai while carrying over 60054 metric tonnes of coal for Adani in 2011.

The vessel also contained around 290 tonnes of fuel oil and 50 tonnes of diesel, on its voyage from Indonesia to Dahej in Gujarat, but sank before reaching its destination causing an oil spill spreading across the Maharashtra coastline from Mumbai to Raigad, affecting both human and maritime life.

During the course of the proceedings, Delta took the stand that the damages were liable to be paid by the insurance company Astra Asigurari Insurance, amidst other defenses. The tribunal negated this stance through the interpretation of various local and international laws on the topic and adjudicated a sum of Rs 100 crore as compensation payable by the company.

This is the second time this year that the Tribunal had held private companies responsible for environmental/natural disaster. Earlier this year, the Tribunal had ordered Alaknanda Hydro Power Co. Ltd., a hydroelectric power company, to pay Rs 9 crore as compensation to people affected by Uttarakhand floods in 2013 because the dam constructed by the company contributed to the flooding experienced by residents of the region.


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