No compensation paid from Environment Relief Fund in 5 yrs
Business Standard|July 31, 2024
No compensation has been paid from the Environment Relief Fund (ERF) since 2019, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Rajya Sabha last week.
NITIN KUMAR

Established in 2008 to assist individuals affected by hazardous substances, the ERF has remained inactive in recent years. "No funds have been released from the ERF in the past five years,” Singh stated.

As of March 31, 2023, the fund had accumulated ₹1,062 crore. Instituted under the Public Liability Insurance Act (PLIA), 1991, following the Bhopal gas tragedy, the ERF's primary purpose is to offer immediate relief to victims of accidents involving hazardous substances. Despite its critical role, the fund has been left untapped, raising concerns about its effectiveness in aiding disaster victims.

The revelation coincided with the government's publication of draft guidelines aimed at enhancing transparency in the disbursement of the fund. Dated July 25, these draft regulations call for increased accountability and clarity in how the ERF is allocated to victims of major environmental disasters.

This story is from the July 31, 2024 edition of Business Standard.

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This story is from the July 31, 2024 edition of Business Standard.

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