Kolkata, Nov 28 (KNN) For "failing to comply" with two-year-old directive to improve air quality in Kolkata and Howrah, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a fine worth Rs 50 million on the West Bengal Government.

The fine should be paid within two weeks of the order to the Central Pollution Control Board, failing which, the government will have to pay an additional Rs 10 million as fine for every month's delay to the CPCB, said S P Wangdi, Judge, NGT Eastern Zone principal bench and Nagin Nanda, non-judicial member.

The NGT also directed the West Bengal chief secretary to file an affidavit by January 8, 2019 regarding the follow-up action plan and payment of fine.

The order was given in the wake of West Bengal government not enforcing several measures recommended by the NGT in an earlier order in 2016 to check air pollution, the bench observed.

NGT had recommended measures in the order like, introducing alternative mechanism to put a lid on high number of polluting diesel vehicles in the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah, introducing remote sensing device (RSD) to monitor smoke emission, increasing number of computerized air monitoring stations from the existing ones.

Introducing the system of allowing private vehicles with odd and even registration numbers on specific days in the week, monitoring entry of non-BS 4 commercial vehicles to twin cities, stop burning of waste in dumping sites in different parts of state, are the other measures recommended to the government.