Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monday started hearing the issue of violation of environment law during construction of the Paradip-Haridaspur railway.
During the hearing, the NGT ordered the state government to constitute a high level committee to investigate that extent to which the environment law was violated during the construction of the railway line and also its impact on environment and submit a report.
The committee will comprise a scientist from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), the environment impact assessment authority and Khurda Collector. The next hearing will be after the committee submits its report, said NGT.
According to sources, petitioner Sachibhusan Pattnayak, Ashesh Kumar Khatua, Aalaya Samantray and Pratap Chandra Mohanty filed a complaint with the NGT alleging that environment laws were violated during the construction of the railway line. The petitioner also informed the tribunal that around 50 lakh cubic feet soil has been used during construction.
Through a RTI, the petitioner learnt that without getting the necessary environmental permissions the contractors excavated soil from Derabish, Marshaghai, Kendrapara and Mahakalapada tehsil in Kendrapara district.
According to environment impact assessment law notice 2006, there environment permission and mining plan are necessary for soil excavation or stone mining. However, the contractors did not obtain any permission prior, during or after the work. The soil in the region has been robbed of its productivity due to rampant excavation in several places, the petitioners informed.
The NGT will hear the issue again April 22.