India, June 13 -- Two Pune-based institutions have been entrusted a crucial role in one of Maharashtra's most closely-watched environmental litigation matters, as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeks independent technical and financial scrutiny of a Rs.137-crore environmental damage compensation imposed on Palghar-based Shakti Plastic Industries over alleged irregularities in plastic waste recycling certificates.

In an order passed on June 4 and uploaded on June 8, the NGT's western zonal bench directed that experts from the Pune branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) assist in determining whether or not the environmental compensation levied by the Maharashtra Pollut...