The case pending at the National Green Tribunal against Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TSGENCO) with regard to construction of Bhadradri Thermal Power Station has taken yet another turn, when the corporation filed an affidavit on Tuesday, disputing the earlier status report of a senior scientist from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
Construction stopped
In the affidavit, the corporation has denied allegations of going ahead with construction of the project despite directions to the contrary by the tribunal on December 12. The construction was stopped as soon as the order copy was received on December 14, it was learnt to have asserted.
The site inspection report submitted to the Ministry by senior scientist M. T. Karuppiah on January 11, however, spoke the contrary. Besides confirming environmental violations by TSGENCO as alleged by petitioner organisation Human Rights Forum (HRF), it also noted that works were continuing on January 9, when the site was inspected.
The same report had earlier been produced before the court by the Ministry.
The HRF has, making MoEF, State Pollution Control Board and TSGENCO respondents in its petition, alleged that the corporation has violated the Environment (Protection) Act by going ahead with the construction of the project without waiting for the Environmental Clearance (EC) from MoEF.
The 4X270 MW project has initially got delayed as the expert appraisal committee under the MoEF sought approval by the Ministry of Power for the sub-critical technology being employed in construction of the 4X270 MW project. Though the approval has arrived, it has been granted with a caveat that the project should be completed before the end of the 12{+t}{+h}Plan period, by March 31, 2017.
The tribunal’s order on April 7 this year has, meanwhile, directed the MoEF not to appraise the project till further orders, in view of satisfactory evidence of the violations. It reiterated the same stance during the hearing on May 2 despite appeals by corporation’s counsel, even while allowing the corporation to file objections if any, to the MoEF status report.
Next hearing
On Tuesday too, the tribunal reportedly refused to vacate its stay on the appraisal. The applicant and MoEF have one week to file rejoinders to the objections raised by TSGENCO. Next hearing is posted for May 30.
