Observing that release of volatile organic compounds is a health hazard, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refused to grant more time to State-owned oil firms to instal vapour recovery devices at all fuel stations in the NCR.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said: “It is undisputed that release of VOCs is a hazard to the public health, which is to be safeguarded by installing VRDs/VRS, under the Precautionary Principle and Principle of Sustainable Development, no activity can be allowed to be carried out resulting in damage to the public health.”
It added: “We do not find any justification to grant further extension of time. In fact, there may be issue of recovering compensation for damage to the environment already caused by release of VOC.” Earlier the NGT had directed the oil companies to instal Stage I and Stage II vapour recovery devices by October 31.
