The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday (24 September) issued an interim order asking the NTPC, which is setting up a thermal power project in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, not to violate environmental conditions and explosives rules relating to open blasting.
Acting on a petition filed by Global Human Rights Communications executive director Subash Mohapatra, the tribunal directed the Odisha chief secretary, Pollution Control Board and the Sundargarh district collector to file a status report within three weeks.
The chief secretary was also directed to implement the order of the tribunal relating to the blasting issue and submit an action taken report at the next hearing on November 2.
Mohapatra alleged that NTPC has indulged in rampant blasting activities in contravention of explosives rules for removal of hard rock on the land proposed for construction of a power plant, posing a risk to human life, property and domestic animals in the area.
