SC orders payment of Rs 20 million as compensation for affected residents of Chunnakam power plant pollution

The Supreme Court today (Apr 04) ordered the Northern Power Company Ltd  to pay compensation worth Rs 20 million for 500 residents who were affected by the pollution of water owing to the Chunnakam Power Station in the North.

The order was issued after taking into consideration a petition filed by Enviornmentalist Dr. Ravindra Kariyawasam on behalf of the Centre for Environmental and Nature Studies (CENS).

Dr. Kariyawasam in his petition claimed that the relevant state authorities had not taken measures to address the water pollution issue in Chunnakam which was caused due to the dumping of waste oil belonging to the Chunnakam Power Plant.

The trial-at-bar had considered several similar cases which had occured in India before delivering the verdict. During today's hearing the Supreme Court announced that today's verdict was of historical importance since the case was taken up as a civil case.