Gujarat: No relief for Morbi ceramic units; National Green Tribunal upholds Rs 122 crore fine

Ahmedabad: The National Green Tribunal (West Zone) on Wednesday dismissed the appeals filed by 337 different ceramic units from the Morbi and Wankaner region, taking exception to the payment of a total of Rs 122.05 crore towards environmental damage compensation (EDC) for continuing the use of prohibited coal gasifiers.The prohibition on the use of coal gasifiers by ceramic units around the Morbi area was implemented by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) after the issue travelled up to the Supreme Court. The ceramic units were permitted to operate if they adopted PNG. In 2024, the final report by a committee assessed the environmental damage at Rs 122.05 crore, and the same was proposed to be equitably distributed among all the ceramic industries using coal gasifiers.
In May 2025, the GPCB issued directions for payment of EDC for as many as 606 ceramic units. Out of them, 337 units filed appeals in the NGT, challenging the GPCB order on various grounds, including that the order was passed without issuance of a show-cause notice and without providing any opportunity for a hearing. They also questioned the fixation of the penalty from the day of possession of coal gasifiers, and termed it illegal.After the hearing, the NGT's Pune bench said, "The total amount of EDC has been calculated in respect of all the defaulting industry. That was later apportioned on the basis of the size of the industry, which was divided into three kinds of industries, i.e. small, medium and large… We also express our agreement with the said principle of distribution because there could be no other possible mode to deal with the issue of this magnitude."The tribunal further said, "We are of the view that there is no infirmity in the impugned orders and the same need to be upheld and hence, the present appeals are dismissed."