Bhubaneswar, 3 September (IANS) National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Government of Odisha, District Collector, and Superintendent of Police, Jharsuguda, among others, in relation to allegations that an integrated steel plant in Jharsugud district is more than 5 hectares.
The tribunal, a local social worker, hears a petition filed by Setunghan Mehar, has directed all the relevant government officials as well as the representatives of the said steel company to register their reactions within a month of receiving the order.
Meher claimed in his petition that the Iron and Steel Company is operating a cement grinding unit at an integrated steel plant, a captive power plant and Markuta in Jharsuguda village. The petitioner alleged that the said company has illegally encroached forest land, which is recorded as Gramya Jungle Kissam in Markuta in Jharsuguda district in Ror.
He further claimed that it had earlier applied for the turn of 5.229 hectares of forest land, but the proposal was caught. The petitioner’s counsel Shankar Prasad Pani said on Friday, “The company has also not made a new proposal.”
Pani further stated that in response to the RTI application filed by the applicant, Divisional Forest Officer, Jharsuguda revealed that till date the company has not received forest withdrawals in relation to integrated steel plants and other projects. However, construction activities have been made without approval from the Central Government under Section 2 of the Forest (Protection) Act, 1980, the petitioner accused.
The petitioner’s advocate claimed that the applicant on July 21 filed a complaint with Deputy Director General (Forest), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Climate Change, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Odisha government requested to investigate illegal encroachment of forest land, but to no avail.
On 8 July, Naib Sarpanch of Markuta Grampanchayat had represented DFO Jharsuguda and Tehsildar Jharsuguda about the illegal encroachment of forest land earlier, but so far no action has been taken by the concerned authorities in this regard.
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