PTI reported that the National Green Tribunal has directed an iron and steel plant near an airport in Jharsuguda district of Odisha be not allowed to reopen till allegations against it of polluting the environment and being a hazard to aircraft are examined by the authorities.
A bench of NGT acting chairperson, Justice Mr AS Naidu and member Mr GK Pandey ordered the Ministry of Environment and Forests to consider granting clearance for reopening of Jain Steel and Power Ltd's project, closed since February 17th due to non supply of raw materials, after examining the reports of the Central Pollution Control Board and Airport Authority of India.
The bench said "We direct that the project should not be allowed to be reopened till the relevant issues pertaining to the likely emissions of smoke and particulates and its impact on air pollution adjoining to the airport are critically evaluated.
Till the report of CPCB and fresh clearance from AAI are available and submitted to MoEF for review, the plant will not be allowed to operate.
The Tribunal in its November 22 judgement observed that JSPL owned by Kolkata based Jain Group had been given a no objection certificate by AAI in May 2005 on the assurance that it would not use coal as a fuel, but as a reducing agent for iron ore.
The bench added that "But then it appears that to raise the temperature in the rotary kiln, the required heat has to be produced by burning of coal inside the kiln and as such the undertaking given by the project proponent to the effect that coal would not be used as fuel does not appear to be the correct position."
