ROHTAK, June 9 -- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has imposed environmental compensation of nearly Rs.48 crore on industries for various environmental violations across the country as Rs 15.72 crore have been imposed on 51 industries located in the Ganga Basin in various states. The information supplied by the CPCB following an RTI application filed by advocate Kamal Anand from Punjab reveals that since 2018 the penalties were imposed across various sectors, including chemical industry, amounting to Rs.10.76 crore, the plastic industry amounting to Rs.8.82 crore, and the sugar and distilleries sector amounting to Rs.6.04 crore. In addition, 46 healthcare facilities were penalised for biomedical waste violations totalling Rs.3.03 crore, while 13 hazardous waste facilities were fined nearly Rs.2 crore. Among the biggest violators, is a Rampur (UP) based distillery and chemical company was imposed the highest penalty of Rs.7.29 crore, making it the single-largest environmental compensation levied on an industrial unit in the records disclosed by the CPCB, reveals the information furnished by the CPCB after intervention by the first appellate authority. However, the reply indicates that a majority of the violations in the Ganga Basin were linked to the liquor and sugar industries in Uttar Pradesh, sectors that have frequently come under the scanner for pollution-related violations. The plastic industry followed with environmental compensation of Rs.8.82 crore, including penalties imposed on the major pan masala manufacturers while the sugar and distillery sector accounted for another Rs.6.04 crore in compensation. The records further reveal instances where industries continued operations despite regulatory action as some industries were even found operating despite closure directions issued by the CPCB for failing to install online continuous effluent monitoring systems.Another major challenge has come to fore in this in total 46 healthcare facilities were fined more than Rs.3.03 crore for violations of bio-medical waste management Rules....