New Delhi, Jan 22 (KNN) To punish polluting industries for damaging environment, the National Green Tribunal has said recovery of penalty from polluting industries for damaging the environment must be incremental and asked the Central Pollution Control Board to prepare a policy in this regard.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said a policy in this regard be placed online by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and CPCB.

The bench said “The principle of recovery of compensation for damage to the environment must be incremental for subsequent defaults to the extent of double the amount which is imposed in the first instance.”

It said the "polluter pays principle" applies also against officials who fail to take action to curb pollution.

The tribunal said the penalty not yet recovered should be recovered now.

The directions in this regard came when the NGT was examining a report filed by DPCC about the pollution caused by industries in Narela and Bawana areas.