PANJIM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Principal Bench has directed the State government to pay Rs 16 lakh each to the families of four student victims, who had died due to drowning in the laterite quarry in Tuem village in Pernem taluka, while on a picnic, last year in September.
The Bench has however directed the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) to recover the amount from the polluters- land owners or illegal quarry operators, on Principle of Polluters Pay.
The order was passed by NGT while disposing of application filed by Goa Paryavaran Savrakshan Sangharsh Samitee with regards to illegal quarrying of stone, basalt and rubber stones in Pernem taluka and other parts of the State.
“The four students succumbed to injuries due to falling in the pit left uncared thus the family members of the deceased are entitled for the payment of compensation of Rs 16,00,000 each with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum from the date of the order,” the order by Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr Satyawan Singh Garbyal, reads.
“The State of Goa (Department of Mines) is directed to pay the amount of compensation to family members of the deceased. The Department of Mines may recover the amount from the polluters on Principle of Polluters Pay. Any amount paid to the family member of deceased may be deducted from the above amount. The State may recover the total amount from the polluter according to law,” it added.
The Bench said that the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) shall proceed to calculate the environmental compensation and proceed to realise the environmental compensation in accordance with law.
The State government had last month informed NGT that an amount of Rs four crore towards environmental compensation would be recovered from the land owners or illegal quarry operators for undertaking unauthorised laterite stone quarrying in the orchard land in Ibrampur-Tuem.
“If any material or machinery is found at the place at the site where there is illegal mining, State Pollution Control Board is at liberty to seize and confiscate and proceed in accordance with law,” the Bench said.
