Achi news desk-
GUWAHATI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has rebuked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its lack of action against violations of environmental laws spelled out in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), suggesting that this inaction has empowered polluters to continue their activities with impunity. This criticism was part of the NGT verdict in a case dealing with the discharge of untreated sewage into the Yamuna river in Uttar Pradesh.
The NGT coram, comprising Chairman Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Associate Justice Sudhir Aggarwal, and expert member Dr. A. Senthil Wal, noted that the ED had limited its enforcement under the PMLA, without considering that the scope of the law had been significantly expanded. Following the 2012 amendment.
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"She forgot to notice the fact that the scope of PMLA 2002 has been enhanced or expanded, a lot, at least after the amendment of the 2012 Act dated 15.02.2013. More than eleven years have passed but not a single action has been taken by the Enforcement Directorate against violators who commit offenses under the environmental laws included in Appendix Part A of the 2002 PML." This was stated by the NGT.
The tribunal further emphasized that while violations of environmental law are not generally cognizable, they become cognizable under the PMLA. The NGT criticized the lack of action against such violations, pointing out that this may encourage polluters to continue their illegal activities without fear of consequences.
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In addition, the NGT directed the UPPCB to take punitive action for offenses under the Water Act, the Ganga River Order 2016 and the Environment Protection Act.
