New Delhi: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for an unexplained delay of over one year in transferring Rs 8 lakh collected as environmental compensation for afforestation in village Nilothi in West Delhi. The order was passed by a bench comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad in the matter originating from a complaint filed by advocate Pardeep Kadiyan regarding the operation of illegal stone-crushing units near Udai Vihar, Phase-II, village Nilothi in West Delhi. Earlier on July 27, 2022, the tribunal directed DPCC to recover environmental compensation from the violators and utilise the funds for restoration and improvement of the local environment. Subsequently, on Nov 23, 2023, the tribunal directed DPCC to release Rs 8 lakh to the Delhi Forest Department within one week for afforestation in village Nilothi or adjoining areas. However, the amount was transferred only on Dec 30, 2024, following which a hearing was held in Jan 2025 imposing a fine, the order of which was shared on Feb 26, 2026. Earlier, in its report dated Jan 7, DPCC attributed the delay to the shifting of its office from the ISBT Building to IT Tower. The tribunal, however, termed the explanation “unreasonable and unacceptable,” observing that non-compliance with its orders constitutes an offence under valid sanctions of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. While refraining from initiating prosecution against DPCC officials, including its chairman and member secretary, the bench said that imposing costs was necessary to curb the “widely prevalent tendency of non-compliance” and the offering of “lame excuses.” “We find the reasons given for delay of more than one year in transfer of the amount by DPCC to Department of Forest and Wildlife, GNCTD to be wholly unreasonable and unacceptable. Accordingly, DPCC is directed to deposit an amount of Rs 50,000/- as costs for non-compliance with the order passed by this tribunal,” read the order. The amount will be utilised to provide facilities for the public visiting the tribunal.
