The National Green Tribunal on Friday asked German automobile manufacturers Volkswagen to deposit Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board on charges that the auto major, one of the world’s largest, used device that gave false reading during emission tests.
The tribunal was hearing pleas filed by a school teacher Saloni Ailawadi and a few others seeking ban on sale of Volkswagen vehicles for alleged violation of emission norms.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also formed a committee comprising officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Automotive Research Association of India to calculate the actual quantum of the environmental loss.
The charge against Volkswagen and sister companies that included Skoda Auto India Private Limited, Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited are releasing pollutants in the environment in violation of the prescribed regulations.
In today’s hearing, petitioner submitted that law suits have been filed against the respondents in various countries. The bench inquired about the details of the proceedings such as the fine that may have been imposed upon them. The petitioner submits that he does not possess complete information about the cases however, he is absolutely certain that the CEO of Volkswagen has been imprisoned in Germany. Other than that proceedings against them has been initiated in countries like Canada, China, Romania, US, UK, in all these countries the government authorities have taken action against the respondents. The bench told the petitioner that the documents submitted are not conclusive. The Petitioner told the NGT that the respondents have admitted their guilt in countries where the laws are stringent but in India their stand is that they have not done anything wrong because there are no prescribed norms in India regarding vehicles on road. “When an Indian citizen purchases Volkswagen they believe they are purchasing fine foreign technology without realizing the negative impact it has upon the environment,” it was pointed out.
They have introduced 2,50,000 vehicles from 2009 to 2018 in which they have installed such a software or device which gives incorrect information about the pollution emission of their cars, it ten years for other countries to decipher this device. When the bench asked for the amount of compensation sought to be recovered, the petitioner said that according to 1000 rupees environment challan and the time bracket mentioned before their fine per vehicle would amount to 30 lakh rupees and their total default would amount to somewhere around Rs 7,50,000 crores. When the bench told the petitioner to seek assistance from the government authorities in determining the quantum of punishment, the CPCB- says that the fine imposed must be recoverable. The automaker however denied allegations of installation of a device to alter the results of pollution emission of the vehicles. VW said that submits that the petitioner has tested any random vehicle from the street and that is unfair to them.
The petitioner raises objections saying that if we ask them to provide us with a vehicle for inspection what is the guarantee that they would provide us with the same vehicle that they sell the citizens.
The green panel directed the committee to submit the report within a month and asked the company and the petitioner in the case to appear before the panel within seven days with their contentions.irect message.
—India Legal Bureau