India, Nov. 15 -- The Uttar Pradesh pollution control board (UPPCB) has failed to recover 97 per cent (%) of the total penalty imposed on pollution rules' violators in the last nine years, a reply to the right to information (RTI) Act application has revealed.

The UPPCB imposed Rs.28 crore worth penalty against the offenders in the last nine years but it could recover approximately only 3% (almost 1 crore rupees) of it from the ones who were found violating the Grap provisions, the reply to the RTI application showed.

Residents alleged the UPPCB imposes fine for violation of Grap rules, but forgets to recover the same.

As per the rules, the government bodies have a mandate to claim and use the penalty fund for the measures can be taken...