-- Samir Umarye PANAJI: The national green tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday issued a notice to the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB), other government authorities and Sesa Goa on a complaint lodged by village panchayat of Navelim-Bicholim over pollution in the village by the pig iron plant of the company.
The notice is returnable by March 19. The applicant has alleged that the operation of the project of Sesa Goa is in violation of the environment clearance order. 'As the EC order is violated, resulting in pollution in the village from the plant's operations, and consents issued are in violation of the EC, the applicant has no recourse other than to approach this tribunal for relief,' stated the application. The applicant has also said that project has EC without public hearing as it was represented to the expert appraisal committee of the MoEF that the project was falling wholly within a notified industrial estate. 'Critical component of the plant falls outside the industrial estate,' stated the complaint. The applicant also alleged that the EC was granted for an integrated steel plant but, however, the consent issued by the GSPCB are for expansion of unit. The Bombay high court at Goa recently held that the project is an expansion of the existing pig iron plant based on the submission by Sesa Goa and the Goa government. The applicant has prayed before the NGT to cancel the 'consent to establish' and 'consent to operate' of the plant of Sesa for non-compliance of condition imposed, non-compliance of direction of GSPCB and regular pollution affecting the villagers. Applicant also prayed to cancel the EC granted to the Sesa Goa project for non-compliance of conditions imposed and regular pollution that was affecting the applicant.(ToI)
