KOLKATA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 2 crores on Jindal Steel & Power Limited Angul for illegally damaging a river ecosystem in Angul in Odisha’s Angul district.
The NGT order came on November 26, 2021, while hearing the petition filed by a local villager seeking direction on compliance with environmental laws.
Hon’ble Justice B. Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Hon’ble Saibal Dasgupta (Expert Member) at the National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, issued an order for consideration of remedial action against illegal encroachment by Jindal Steel & Power Limited, which resulted in damage to a local Kurdabahali Nalla and its natural ecosystem.
“We, therefore, impose a cost of Rs. 2,00,00,000/- (Two Crore) upon the Jindal Steel & Power Limited, for filling up the original Kurdabahali Nalla with earth and constructing its industrial complex thereon at a time when it had not received sanction from the Government of Odisha for diversion of the Kurdabahali Nalla through an alternate diversion into the Parang Minor Irrigation Project.”, NGT said.
“We also direct that out of the amount of Rs. 2,00,00,000/- (Rupees Two Crores), Rupees 1,50,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore Fifty Lakhs) shall be deposited with the Forest Department, Govt. of Odisha and Rupees 50,00,000/- (Rupees Fifty Lakhs) shall be deposited with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board.”, NGT ordered.
“The Forest Department, Govt. of Odisha, will utilize the said amount for increasing the green cover in the area along the banks of the Nalla and in available vacant areas. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board will be responsible for continuous monitoring of the water quality of the Nalla as well as in the Parang Minor Irrigation Project.
Kurdabahali and Nandira Nalla passes over six villages covering an area of 20.460 acres of which 13.36 acres have been given to Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation.
The Kurdabahali/Nandira Nalla originates from village Badakerjang Jungle and passes through villages, namely, Kaliakata, Panapur, Kaliakata Jungle, Ramadihi and Sankerjang Jungle and finally merges into the Parang Minor Irrigation Project. A tributary originating in the trijunction area of villages, namely, Basudevpur, Panapur and Sankerjang Jungle also meets this Nalla at the junction point of Village-Kaliakata Jungle and Sankerjang Jungle.
(India CSR)
