India, April 14 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to assess environmental damage compensation (EDC) against industries found discharging effluents into the Pavana river, while expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of timelines and enforcement by multiple authorities.

Hearing a suo motu case on April 6, based on a Hindustan Times report published on February 24 titled "Pavana River enters 'priority 1' category due to increase in pollution", the tribunal noted that key agencies had failed to comply with earlier directions. The order was uploaded on April 10.

The bench observed that the Pune Zilla Parishad had not submitted any timeline for implementing soak pits, community ...