New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Vedanta to remove slurry ash, which has been lying over 115 acre of land near Katikela village in Jharsuguda, before the arrival of Monsoon season.
A two-judge bench of NGT comprising Judicial Member Raghuvendra S Rathore and Expert Member Satyawan Singh Garbyal directed the state government and its agencies to provide assistance in implementation of the observations made by the Commissioner, as and when required.
“It is made clear that respondent no.6 (Vedanta) while complying with the observations of the Court Commissioner priority be given to removal of ash slurry from the affected area before coming of the monsoon season. The local administration shall give all help and cooperation to the said respondent,” the bench observed.
Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for Vedanta Sanjib Panigrahi submitted in the tribunal that Vedanta is ready to remove ash as soon as possible. He also submitted that the Vedanta has been trying to remove slurry ash from the site but the local people have been creating obstruction. The tribunal has directed the state government to provide assistance in maintaining law and order in the area.
Earlier, the tribunal had appointed former expert member of NGT P C Mishra as the court commissioner and requested him to inspect the site and submit a report.
Mishra had submitted a detailed report along with photographs of the site January 31. He submitted in his report that the eastern side of the Lagoon 2 of Katikela ash pond was completely breached to the extent of 800 m. The Lagoon 2 is now completely dry and not being used for any purpose.
“In the ash spilled area of 115 acre open land, an excavation of ash has been undertaken as the consent is awaited from Pollution Control Board. Whole area of 115 acre now looks like waste land. During 2017-18 with the intervention of district administration the industry has paid compensation to almost 95 per cent of the agriculture land owners for crop loss and paid Rs 50,000 per acre for ash removal. However, no ash has been removed by the land owners. In the meantime, the industry has purchased/acquired about 25 AC of agriculture land,” commissioner said in his report.
He also stated in his report that there is a ‘complete removal of ash from river bed’. The commissioner also suggested undertaking a study on ground water as a huge quantity of ash has been deposited in the open area since August 2017 and during the two rainy seasons much ash water might have percolated down to reach the ground water.
