NGT asks 4 firms to pay Rs 286 cr for Mumbai's 'gas chamber' like condition

The NGT directed HPCL to pay 76.5 crore, BPCL 67.5 crore, AEGIS 142 crore and SLCL Rs 0.2 crore

The National Green Tribunal has held four companies, including BPCL and HPCL, responsible for creating "gas chamber" like condition" in Mahul, Ambapada and Chembur areas in Mumbai and directed them to pay Rs 286.2 crore for the damaged caused to the environment.

The NGT said though there may be many reasons for presence of Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)in the atmosphere like vehicular emissions, it cannot be denied that Sea Lord Containers Ltd (SLCL), Aegis Logistics Ltd (ALL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) contribute substantially and predominantly to the VOCs in Mahul and Ambapada villages.

The prolonged