Judgement of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal and unauthorized use of forest land in Jharsuguda by Vedanta Limited, 13/11/2017
Judgement of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Non Violence Again Vs Vedanta Limited & Others dated 13/11/2017 regarding illegal and unauthorized use of forest land in Jharsuguda by Vedanta Limited. The Applicant states that Vedanta Ltd. formerly known as Vedanta Alumina Ltd. used 246.74 acres of forest land in Khata No. 108 illegally for its ash pond in Burrkhamunda village in Jharsuguda district without approval from the Central Govt. under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (in short, FC Act). They further contended that Environmental Clearance (in short, EC) was obtained for expansion of their existing Aluminium Smelter and Captive Power Plant on 11th June, 2008, suppressing the fact on forest land and mentioning that no forest land is involved.
NGT dismissed the Application saying "that the Application is barred by limitation" and it was filed much beyond the prescribed time limit under the ambit of National Green Tribunal Act 2010.