Green tribunal puts on hold clearance to power project

The National Green Tribunal has put on hold the environment clearance granted to a power plant in Chhattisgarh on the ground that the Environment ministry failed to get public hearing of the affected persons done.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has put on hold the environment clearance granted to a power plant in Chhattisgarh on the ground that the environment ministry failed to get public hearing of the affected persons done.

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The ministry had given environment clearance to increase the scope of existing project of Scania Steel and Power Ltd in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh without conducting the mandatory public hearing.

The tribunal members GK Pandey and justice (retired) AS Naidu also asked the ministry to revisit the entire project in light of the observations made by the tribunal. The tribunal has observed that exempting public hearing for the project was not as per rules.
The tribunal, however, refused to cancel the environment clearance granted in 2008 saying the project proponent cannot be held responsible for the exemption. And, asked the ministry to expedite the review process.

The suspension can affect the power developers in the state.

Chattisgarh has been reeling under severe electricity crisis due to rampant Naxal menace as not many are interested to set up plant here.