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The Supreme Court has Today allowed an application seeking direction to restore a plea before National Green Tribunal seeking enhancement of compensation to victims of 2013 Uttrakhand flood.

A bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice CT Ravikumar condoned the delay in submitting the court fees and directed NGT to consider the matter on merits.

The plea has been filed by Mandakini Badh Prabhavit Samiti alleging that the houses of the victims washed away due to the activities of L&T Hydropower Ltd.

However, Senior Advocate KV Vishwanathan appearing for L&T submitted that the application has only been filed to extract money from the respondents and the matter doesn't pertain to an environmental issue.

Earlier, the original application filed before NGT has been dismissed on the ground of non-payment of court fees.

The plea filed before NGT submitted, "The applicant submits that the amount granted was not based on a proper evaluation of the damage caused to the houses considering the actual value of the houses in the year 2013."

However, NGT while dismissing the plea noted, "The applicants have not paid requisite Court fee. The matter has been pending for the purpose for the last two years. Each member of the association is said to have received Rs. 7 lakhs each towards loss of property. There is no tangible material for bigger loss. In any case, no ground is made out for granting further time for payment of Court fee."

Case Title: Mandakini Badh Prabhavit Samiti Vs. L and T Uttaranchal Hydropower Ltd. & Ors.