India fines Volkswagen Rs 500cr for eco-damage
India's National Green Tribunal (NGT) yesterday ordered automobile major Volkswagen to pay Rs 500 crore as fine for “intentionally programming diesel engines with cheat devices” that caused environmental damage.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the carmaker to deposit the amount within two months.
The tribunal increased the compensation amount of Rs 171.34 crore, which was recommended by an NGT-appointed committee, as a means of "creating deterrence".
The auto giant, however, said it did not violate the BS-IV norms and that the test results were based on "on-road testing" for which there were no prescribed standards.
The NGT bench said, “Sustainable development is the main guiding factor. We are unable to accept the manufacturer's objections to the report."
It said that the apex pollution monitoring body may consider utilising the fine amount towards improving air quality in the national capital region and other highly polluted areas.
On November 16 last year, the NGT-appointed committee had said that the use o of “cheat device” by Volkswagen in diesel cars in India leads to inference of environmental damage and had directed it to deposit an interim amount of Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
It had also constituted a joint team comprising representatives of the CPCB, the heavy industries ministry, the Automotive Research Association of India, and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, which had recommended Rs 171.34-crore fine on Volkswagen as "health damages" for causing air pollution in Delhi.
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