The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to visit Chhattisgarh and review the alleged illegal construction of barrages on the upper catchment areas of Mahanadi river and submit a report within three months.
The NGT’s direction came while hearing a petition filed by Odisha-based social activist Sudarsan Das.
Elaborating on the NGT’s direction, Das’ lawyer Hritik Dutt said the MoEF would take action in accordance to the letter it had written to Chhattisgarh terming its six projects on Mahanadi illegal, as the cumulative impact assessment of the projects was not done.
Meanwhile, Advocate General of Odisha Surya Prasad Misra said, “The MoEF would have to submit a report within three months failing which the court will again take up the matter for hearing.”