Mumbai: NGT-Ordered Committee Finds Ashapura Meinchem Limited Guilty Of Severe Environmental Violations In Ratnagiri, Recommends Crores In Fines

**Mumbai: National Green Tribunal Committee Highlights Severe Environmental Violations by Ashapura Meinchem Ltd. in Ratnagiri**

A committee constituted under the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has released a report exposing major environmental violations committed by Ashapura Meinchem Ltd., a mining company operating in Rowle village, Ratnagiri. The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by Bhavesh Karekar, an engineer-turned-agriculturalist, who accused the company of illegal bauxite mining and causing significant environmental degradation in the area.

### Complaint Details

Bhavesh Karekar raised serious concerns about the company’s unregulated excavation activities, including:

– Illegal mining operations without the required permissions or No Objection Certificates (NOCs)
– Haphazard mining and crushing activities leading to severe environmental damage
– Depletion and contamination of groundwater resources in surrounding areas
– Uncontrolled air pollution due to mining without proper air quality monitoring
– Failure to conduct mandated plantation drives in the affected zones
– Damage to public roads caused by overloading of transport vehicles
– Significant structural damage to a public bridge over the Barja River, a critical evacuation route for mined materials
– Night-time mining operations, violating existing regulations

### Committee Findings

The committee’s report corroborated many of Karekar’s allegations and found that Ashapura Meinchem Ltd. had obtained Environmental Clearance (EC) based solely on subsurface mining rights for 228 hectares. However, the company did not hold agreements for surface rights over all the land involved.

Additionally, the report noted the company’s failure to adhere to conditions related to:

– Tree plantation requirements
– Mineral transportation protocols
– Operation of stone crushers without acquiring necessary consents from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB)

### Concerns Regarding Infrastructure

The investigation also raised alarms about the Barja River bridge, which currently shows visible cracks and has limited load-bearing capacity. The committee recommended that the Public Works Department (PWD) and Regional Transport Office (RTO) conduct a thorough safety audit of the bridge. Until the audit is completed, the transportation of minerals via this bridge should be suspended to prevent further damage or potential accidents.

### Recommended Actions

The committee suggested strict punitive measures against Ashapura Meinchem Ltd. for non-compliance, including:

– Installation of CCTV cameras to closely monitor mining activities
– Maintenance and repair of public roads at the company’s expense, following the Polluter Pays Principle

### Environmental Compensation

Based on its findings, the committee recommended imposing substantial environmental compensation fees on the company, including:

– Rs. 1,74,60,000 for violations related to environmental regulations, such as insufficient tree plantation and illegal mining operations
– Rs. 26,73,600 for unauthorized groundwater extraction without obtaining the necessary NOC from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)

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This report underscores the urgent need for stricter regulatory oversight and stringent enforcement of environmental laws to curb illegal mining activities and protect the fragile ecosystem of Ratnagiri.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-ngt-ordered-committee-finds-ashapura-meinchem-limited-guilty-of-severe-environmental-violations-in-ratnagiri-recommends-crores-in-fines