VISAKHAPATNAM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) served notices to the district collector of Vizag to inspect the NTPC Simhadri power plant in person and send a report by January 7 of 2022 over the pollution of the plant. NGT southern bench asked the collector A Mallikharjuna
to send a full-fledged report or at least send an interim report if the full report was not possible. The next hearing would be held on January 7 of 2022.
A resident of Pittalavanipalem, Battu Satish Reddy, lodged a complaint in Southern Bench of NGT against NTPC Simhadri, Union of India through its secretary of Ministry of MoEF, Chief Secretary of AP, Central Pollution Control Board, APPCB and also the district collector of Vizag. The complainant Satish’s house is situated 50 meters away from the ash pond of the plant and facing severe dust and water pollution caused by the plant. He alleged that the plant was continuously violating the conditions in Environment Clearance guaranteed by MoEF.
Satish and his villagers complained to the local authorities about the pollution. Though the local authorities provided tap water to the houses, the dust pollution is continuing as the ash pond is situated less than 100 meters. The plant area is 2381 acres which include 630 acres of Ash pond In 1996, The total cost of the project was included with a provision of Rs 301 crore for environmental mitigation purposes.
The complainant accused that the NTPC is not implementing most of the conditions imposed by the MoEF as Pittalavanipalem villagers are represented to the district administration on the pollution many times. Since the plant allegedly violated the conditions imposed by the MoEF and continuously caused air, water, and soil pollution, Satish Reddy lodged a complaint.in NGT on November 17. The lawyer of the complainant Sravan Kumar told TOI that NGT asked the district collector to inspect the plant personally and send a report.
The case is admitted by the NGT Chennai bench. Tribunal appointed a joint Committee with MoEF, CPCB, APPCB, and District Collector of Visakhapatnam. Tribunal directed the District collector to visit personally to the site and file a report on the allegations of non-compliance of conditions of Environment clearance, Air, water, soil pollution, Loss caused to agriculture, implementation of CSR funds, and others.
Tribunal directed to file at least interim report by next date of hearing. Tribunal directed the committee to assess the Environment compensation for loss of environment, agriculture. Tribunal directed to submit copies to the Registry of Tribunal within one week for sending the notice. APPCB accepted the notice and requested time for filing the response. The complainant accused that NTPC had done nothing to improve the ash management, which resulted in heath ailments and groundwater problems, besides breathing problems and also agriculture-related issues. (Times of India)
