Cuttack: Expressing concern over the proposed cement plant in Athagarh block here, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the parties to the case, including the state government, to furnish replies within three weeks.
The Eastern Zone Bench of the environment watchdog sought replies from the Forest and Environment department secretary, Cuttack Collector, Cuttack divisional forest officer (DFO) and Odisha State Pollution Control Board member secretary and posted the hearing to December 10.
The tribunal’s move came Monday while hearing a petition filed by a five-member team, led by Duryodhan Rout, alleging that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has violated the norms while granting environment clearance for setting up of the proposed cement plant at Khamar-Nuagaon and Kolathapangi in Athagarh block here July 16.
According to the petition, a public hearing was organised October 12, 2017 for setting up of a 3-MTPA cement plant but the project could not take shape due to stiff resistance from the locals. However, the SEIAA granted environment clearance for the proposed cement plant July 16, 2018.
Alleging that SEIAA has given the approval without taking into account the locals’ opinion, the five-member team approached the environment watchdog. They informed the tribunal that the proposed cement plant would come up on a 90-acre grazing land hence villagers would face difficulties in grazing their cattle.
Besides, the plant would also pollute the area. “The area has been declared as an elephant corridor by the Forest department and any human interference would definitely hinder the jumbos’ movement. Athagarh faces severe water scarcity in summers and the proposed project will unquestionably deteriorate the water table in the area. Subsequently, human settlements and schools within 200-metre radius of the plant will bear the brunt,” the petition read.
Advocate Shankar Prasad Pani pleaded on behalf of the petitioners.