India's Century Pulp and Paper Hit with Fines, Investigations over Lalkua Mill

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The country's National Green Tribunal (NGT) has fined the firm Rupee 3 million (US$44,500) over liquid and solid effluent pollution that has affected the surrounding area and waterways.

Century has also been ordered to pay Rupee 300,000 to the plaintiff in the case, a local animal rights activist. Furthermore, the NGT has mandated further inspections of the mill and its effluent and waste disposal practices. While the firm argued its practices have dramatically improved since 2011, recent preliminary inspections found that questionable discharge has continued to some degree.

The NGT's response to Century's dismissal of the preliminary inspections has been to order more. The Lalkua mill can produce about 471,000 tonnes/yr of tissue, uncoated fine paper, and virgin cartonboard. It can also make almost 39,000 tonnes/yr of dissolving pulp. In 2012, after downtime the firm ascribed to environmental issues, the Lalkua facility also saw the start up of a 162,000-tonne/yr bleached hardwood kraft pulp line

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