NGT slaps Rs 500 cr fine on Volkswagen for damaging environment using 'cheat devices' in cars

NGT has slapped a fine of Rs 500 crore on the German automotive manufacturing company Volkswagen for damaging the environment in India.

NGT has asked Volkswagen to deposit the fine amount within a span of 2 months. (Image: AFP)

NGT has slapped a fine of Rs 500 crore on German automotive company

Volkswagen has been accused of using 'cheat devices' in its diesel cars

Even in US and Canada, Volkswagen has to pay a $2.8 billion as a fine

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a fine of Rs 500 crore on the German automotive manufacturing company Volkswagen for damaging the environment in India by using 'cheat devices' in its diesel cars. According to a report by news agency PTI, the NGT has asked Volkswagen to deposit the fine amount within a span of 2 months. This comes soon after the tribunal had slammed the automotive company for failing to deposit a penalty of Rs 100 crore in accordance with its November 2018 order and had direct it to deposit the amount within 24 hours on January 18, 2019, or the directors of the company would be sent to jail. On November 16 last year, the tribunal had said that the use of 'cheat device' by Volkswagen in diesel cars in India leads to the inference of environmental damage and had asked Volkswagen to deposit an interim amount of Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In its earlier claim, Volkswagen had contested NGT's recommendation, claiming that all its vehicles are compliant with the emissions norms prescribed under Bharat Stage (BS) 4. Making its stand clear, GST had earlier stated that a penalty of Rs 100 crore was only an interim measure and also constituted a joint team of officials of CPCB, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to look into the issue. The four-member committee had also recommended Rs 171.34-crore fine on Volkswagen in regards to  "health damages" created by excess nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the cars. India is not the only country to penalise Volkswagen for violating environmental laws. Even in the US and Canada, the German automaker has to pay a $2.8 billion as a fine.

Published at : 07 Mar 2019 12:59 PM (IST)

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