Spending money on CSR projects has come as a “punishment” for Jindal Steel Works (JSW) for alleged “procedural nature violations” at its Dolvi plant in Pen, Raigad district. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the steel manufacturing company to spend Rs 1,60,80,000 on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities as a punishment for environmental violations.
JSW has to spend the CSR amount within a year: NGT
The order, issued by the Western Bench of the NGT, has directed JSW to complete the CSR expenditure within one year. The company has been asked to submit detailed reports of the CSR activities undertaken to its Board of Directors. The CSR expenditure reports must also be published in the company’s Annual Report and updated on its website every six months until restoration measures are completed, as per the order.
Allegation against JSW Steel Works
In 2022, social activist Samita Patil and agriculturist Sunil Kothekar had filed a petition alleging large-scale environmental damage due to the unauthorized expansion of JSW’s steel plant, the construction of a coke oven facility, and conveyor belt infrastructure leading to its private jetty.
According to the complainants, these developments encroached on sensitive mangrove ecosystems near Dharamtar Creek, allegedly destroying 1.89 hectares of mangroves and disturbing natural water channels.
JSW denies allegations
JSW has denied the allegations of violating environmental norms. The company has stated that they had obtained all environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances necessary for the projects.
JSW violated Coastal Regulation Zone norms: NGT
The NGT has alleged that certain constructions — particularly the conveyor belt — were carried out within 50 meters of the mangroves, violating CRZ norms. Coastal Regulation Zone or CRZ norms in India govern development activities along the coastline, with the primary goal of protecting ecologically sensitive areas and ensuring sustainable development.
Received clearances from Environment Ministry: JSW
JSW, in its defence, has claimed that it has received multiple clearances by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The company claims that no mangroves were present within 50 meters of their construction sites at the time of approval. JSW also argued that the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and MoEF&CC had conducted inspections at regular intervals and had not found any violations until recently.
Regarding the damage to mangroves, the company, in its reply, has blamed the loss on waste dumped by nearby village panchayats around the conveyor gallery.
