Jayashree Nandi | 23rd December, 2016 | http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/ngt-sets-aside-environmental-clearance-for-thermal-power-plant-in-uttar-pradesh/articleshow/56139836.cms
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set aside environmental clearance (EC) for a 1320 MW thermal power plant project in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh for allegedly concealing important facts and data about the project site. The EC was granted to the project based on incomplete information according to the Tribunal.
The Tribunal also directed the company to restore the land to its original condition before construction of the plant started.
The judgement published on December 22 observed that public hearing for the project was conducted in the presence of "gun toting men." A bench headed by justice UD Salvi said "videography has revealed the presence of gun toting men amongst the members attending the public hearing," the lawyer representing the company submitted that Dadri Khurd village where the public hearing took place is situated in a "backward forest area, it is not unusual to find the locals moving with guns." NGT in its judgement however said "arms like guns are bound to strike fear in the hearts of men around and dominate their free will."
The main contention with the project was concealment of the fact that the plant site is surrounded by reserve forests. "There are 11 reserve forests around the site. But the project proponent has concealed the fact that the project involves forest land," said Parul Gupta, lawyer representing petitioners who are associated with the Vindhya Bachao Abhiyan.
The petitioners submitted that the project site is agricultural land used for cattle grazing, surrounded by forests and the railway line proposed to carry coal from a distance of 20 km will pass through forest land requiring forest clearance under the forest (conservation) act. "Cumulatively, therefore, the entire process of consideration and appraisal of the proposal to grant EC is found tainted so as to render it less creditworthy than the one expected by law..." NGT observed.
Another issue raised by petitioners is that the project involves transporting water from Ganga to upper Khajuri reservoir but its impact on water flow or quality both upstream and downstream have allegedly not been discussed in the environment impact assessment (EIA) report. Lawyers representing the petitioners said polluted water from Ganga could pollute the rain fed reservoir.
"It is evident that the project is surrounded by forest and involves parti bhumi (fallow land) thereby signifying least anthropogenic activity at or around the project site and, thus the issue of wildlife in the area deserves serious consideration. ............facts revealed before us do not show that any member of the EAC or Expert member of WII conducted any site visit of the project," the judgment said.
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set aside environmental clearance(EC) for a 1320 MW thermal power plant project in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh for allegedly concealing important facts and data about the project site. The EC was granted to the project based on incomplete information according to the Tribunal.
The Tribunal also directed the company to restore the land to its original condition before construction of the plant started.
The judgement published on December 22 observed that public hearing for the project was conducted in the presence of "gun toting men." A bench headed by justice UD Salvi said "videography has revealed the presence of gun toting men amongst the members attending the public hearing," the lawyer representing the company submitted that Dadri Khurd village where the public hearing took place is situated in a "backward forest area, it is not unusual to find the locals moving with guns." NGT in its judgement however said "arms like guns are bound to strike fear in the hearts of men around and dominate their free will."
