While two PIls seeking a CBI inquiry into the Bhushan Steel plant mishap are pending in the Odisha High Court, a Division Bench of the court on Tuesday issued notices to the State Government, State Pollution Control Board and the authorities of the Dhenkanal-based Bhushan Steel and Stripes ltd to file their counters within one week to another PIl which seeks closure of the plant for larger public interests.
Justices PK Mohanty and Debabrata Das issued the notices to all the eight respondents of the petition, including the State Chief Secretary, Revenue Secretary, Steel and Mines Secretary, IDCO MD, labour Commissioner and Angul district Collector.
The notices were issued after preliminary hearing on the petition filed by one Udayanath Behera of Banrapal village of Angul district and five other villagers.
Two PIls were filed last week seeking a court-guided-CBI probe into the repeated mishaps occurring in the steel plant and more particularly into the November 13 blast furnace explosion in which three workers died and several others were injured. The HC is yet to take cognisance of these two PIls.
Present petitioner Behera and others have prayed for preventive measures against the plant as it has become a deathtrap for its workers. Alleging that the unit is functioning illegally, the petition said the plant authorities and the State Government are illegally gaining pecuniary benefits by way of criminal intimidation.
Pointing out that the plant is allowed to function in a “monopolistic” manner, the petition has challenged the malafide attempt by the Government in defeating the rights of the poor people of the area. “With unauthorised support from the State Government, the authorities of the steel plant are presenting chaos, disorder, insubordination and criminal conduct inside the industrial campus,” the PIl alleged.
The petitioners further alleged that the private land in the area was illegally acquired by the Government and handed over to the plant in violation of the land Acquisition Act.
“No public notice was given for acquisition of very fertile farmland in about 12 villages of the locality, thereby violating Section 4 (1) of l A Act,” the PIl said, alleging that in the absence of a public notice, the affected parties could not make objections as required under the Act.