Written submission by the applicants to the CPCB report on violation of environmental norms by the thermal power plants and coal washeries, Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, 21/06/2021
Written submission on behalf of the applicants (Shivpal Bhagat & Others) to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report, April 16, 2021.
The matter is related to remediation of the environment including soil, water and air in villages Kosampalli, Dongamahua, Kodkel, Kunjemura and Regaon. Nagmuda, Milupara, Sakta which fall under the Tamnar Block, as well as Bhengari, Charmar, Khokroama and Tendanavapara, Chal etc of Ghargoda block, has over the years been severely damaged by mines, thermal power plants, coal washeries and other such industries operating in these villages.
The applicants have stated that the CPCB report has "deliberately mis-quoted applicants’ submission" and nowhere in their submissions on November 18, 2020 and before, have the applicants sought for fly ash dumping in low lying areas or such dumping to be done in a scientific manner. On the contrary, the applicants have on several occasions demanded a complete ban on fly ash dumping in low lying areas.
Similarly, the applicants have nowhere sought for transport of coal by road and also highlighting that such transport is in violation of the EC conditions to the power plants. The committee’s field observations record the ongoing violations of TRN Energy and Mahavir Energy & Coal Limited with respect to fly ash dumping and non-co-operation by South Eastern Coalfields (SECL) and despite this the committee has not recommended any action on them.
Further reading of the minutes of the meeting of Oversight Committee appointed by NGT, February 27, 2020 indicates that no progress made in the implementation of the NGT order since 2020 and a committee member has pointed out that the rest of the committee seems to have mis-understood the NGT and applicant’s position on the fly ash dumping in the low-lying areas. The CPCB report does not mention the actions taken after violations of EC conditions were recorded during the site visit of March 2021.
The site visit report has mentioned several EC violations, but no action has been proposed /recommended by the Committee against the violators.