UditVani, Ranchi : Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) has imposed an environmental compensation penalty of Rs 37,96,875 on Hindalco Industries for supplying nearly two lakh tonnes of red mud to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) without obtaining the required environmental clearance.
The information was shared in the Jharkhand Assembly in response to a starred question raised by Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy.
The written reply was submitted by the state’s Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change.
According to the department, guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board permit the supply of only up to 1,000 kilograms (one tonne) of red mud for experimental or trial purposes without prior environmental approval.
However, Hindalco Industries’ Muri Works allegedly violated these norms by supplying around two lakh tonnes of red mud to NHAI for trial use in the construction of the Gola–Ormanjhi road project without obtaining approval from the state pollution control board.
Roy had sought clarification from the department on whether the supply of such a large quantity of red mud without approval from the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board constituted a violation of environmental regulations and what action the government had taken in the matter.
The department informed the Assembly that the supply was made on October 22, 2024, but the pollution control board did not take action for nearly two years.
Following Roy’s question in the Assembly, the department stated that through letter number 506 dated February 26, 2026, Hindalco Industries was directed to pay an environmental compensation penalty of Rs 37,96,875.
Roy said it remains to be seen what steps the state government will take to ensure recovery of the penalty amount.
