NGT seeks replies on breach of its order on Gujarat power project

NEW DELHI: The Union environment ministry and the Gujarat government have been asked by the National Green Tribunal to respond to the allegations that OPG Power Gujarat Pvt Ltd is violating the tribunal's order to stop work on its 300 MW thermal power plant at Mundra in the state.

The NGT, while granting time to authorities, the OPG and its directors to file replies, made it clear that any construction made contrary to the environmental norms "shall be at the risk of the project proponent".

The orders came on a plea alleging violation of February 8 orders of the Tribunal and seeking direction for "immediate stoppage of the construction work related to 300 (2x150) MW thermal power plant at village Bhadreshwar, Mundra, District Kutch, Gujarat taken up by OPG Power Gujarat".

The petitioner, alleging that four directors of the OPG were responsible for violation of the tribunal's order, pleaded that they "be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to ten crore or with both".

"As stated earlier there are serious allegations with regard to non-compliance of the conditions stipulated in the environmental clearance, but then, the case cannot be disposed of unless the reports are submitted by MoEF and Gujarat State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority.

"In view of the above, two weeks time is granted to all the respondents to file their reports/replies. It is needless to say that any construction done contrary to the terms of environmental clearance shall be at the risk of the project proponent (OPG)," said the tribunal's bench of its Acting Chairperson A S Naidu and Dr R Nagendran.

The tribunal has sought reports on the matter from MoEF, Gujarat State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Forest and Environment Department of the state government.