The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Kolkata has asked the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), Jajpur district Collector, Chandikhol RTO, Visa Steel and the East Coast Railway to file their replies pertaining to a pollution complaint within four weeks’ time.
The tribunal served this notice while conducting a hearing on a petition lodged by Aswini Kumar Dhal alleging that air and water have been polluted at Jakhpura due to movement of heavy vehicles transporting raw materials from the railway siding to the Visa Steel.
The Tribunal also directed OSPCB to file a status report and the reason behind revocation of Jakhapura railway siding closure notice. The board was also asked to take necessary steps to prevent pollution at the railway siding.
Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, advocate Sankar Prasad Pani argued that the Jakhpura railway siding does not have OPSCB consent to operate and even has not installed any preventive and mitigating measures to arrest pollution caused due to handling of coal and minerals. The siding location doesn’t also confirm requisite criteria.
The petitioner had prayed for closure of the railway siding and restoration of the damage caused to agricultural land and water bodies because of pollution in the area. The tribunal fixed the next date of hearing on July 17.
