Velsao fish deaths case: NGT disposes of petition

Margao: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) disposed of a petition concerning fish mortality at Velsao Bay after noting that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had already taken appropriate remedial actions against the culpable company.
The case came before the western zone bench of the NGT. The petition sought an intervention regarding the mass fish deaths that occurred at Velsao Bay, which were attributed to the effluent discharge from Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL), a fertiliser manufacturing company operating at Zuarinagar, Mormugao.
Following a site inspection and the analysis of the water samples from the rivulet, the GSPCB determined that PPL’s operations contributed to environmental damage. Subsequently, the board imposed environmental damage compensation of over Rs 12 lakh on the company for the violations.
In addition to the monetary penalty, the GSPCB took preventive measures by securing a bank guarantee of Rs 25 lakh from PPL to ensure compliance with the conditions.
According to the affidavit submitted by the GSPCB, it conducted a further inspection of the unit in Sep 2024. The pollution had abated, the inspection found.
The NGT bench, comprising judicial member Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Vijay Kulkarni, observed that the pollution was effectively controlled following the GSPCB’s intervention. No order against PPL is required, the NGT said.