Judgement of the National Green Tribunal regarding the establishment of the blast furnace in village Namopra, Burdwan District, West Bengal, 06/05/2016
Judgement of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Biswanath Maji & Others Vs Pollution Control Board, West Bengal & Others dated 06/05/2016 regarding the establishment of the blast furnace at the site of the village Namopara, District-Burdwan, West Bengal by Indian Iron and Steel Company Ltd (ISCO). The Application filed by the villagers is that in the year 1988, about 305 acres of land was acquired for modernization of IISCO plant which includes the Nakasota-Namopara village. This acquisition is in addition to a huge portion of land acquired earlier. It is the contention of the applicants that the village Namopara measuring about 13 acres is surrounded by 30ft high slag bank of the Project and the village being located at lower level of the Project, during rainy season there is contamination of water body by the waste water coming through the plant premises.
NGT in its judgement observed that the core of the problem relates to rehabilitation rather than environmental pollution. The villagers want to be rehabilitated elsewhere as according to them the place is not conducive for a healthyliving due to the industrial activities. NGT directs the Project Proponent - Steel Authority India Limited to construct a garland drain around the premises of the unit within a span of six months and also develop a green belt in order to prevent the dust particles entering to the village.