This time, the National Green Tribunal has issued notices to 13 automobile manufacturers and 24 automobile service centres for defying environmental norms.
In what comes across as the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) latest round of issuing notices to various organisations in the country, the tribunal has notified and warned 13 automobile manufacturers and 24 automobile service centres for going against many environmental norms that need to be followed. In total, 42 respondents have received notifications from the NGT which include the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), urban administration and environment, pollution control board and the MP central discom. NGT seeks a reply from all the respondents on 9th September 2015.
The automotive companies that have received the notices includes the likes of Maruti Suzuki, Volkswagen, Toyota, Mahindra, TVS, General Motors, Honda and Mitsubishi. This is the first time that parent companies of the respective service centres or service stations have been included in the case, making the matter more serious for the these manufacturers. Another case similar to this was filed by Jagmohan Patidar which deals with improper disposing of hazardous waste materials by the service centres.
According to latest data, all respondents are said to be flouting many of the water, air and hazardous waste management rules and as many as seven service centres have been asked to shut shop immediately other than being fined Rs. 5 lakhs as per the ‘polluter pays’ principle. Other than this, 18 service centres that have not filed compliance reports till now will be fined Rs. 5 lakhs each with each one of them having to submit the compliance report within 15 days. The reason as to why the parent companies have been involved is due to the fact that NGT is asking for reasons as to why they didn’t inspect the service centres before actually allotting them with dealerships.
