Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding alleged encroachment of forest land by Shyam Sel & Power Limited, Durgapur, West Bengal, 05/01/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Sushovan Saw Vs MoEF& Others dated 05/01/2024.
The Original Application has been filed by the applicant, seeking direction to protect and preserve the forest land in Mouza Madumpur, J.L. No. 51, Plot No.473, Durgapur, West Bengal, and to take steps to prevent encroachment of the said forest land by Shyam Sel & Power Limited. It was alleged by the applicant that Shyam Sel & Power Limited is engaged in the activity of metallurgical industries (ferrous and non-ferrous) and had filed an application seeking Environmental Clearance on September 29, 2021 for expansion-cum-modification of the Integrated Steel Plant at Jamuria.
The said expansion includes expansion of oxygen plant, producer gas plant, sinter plant, coke oven plant, blast furnace, DRI plant, pellet plant, rolling mill, captive power plant among others. Further in the EIA submitted by the industry seeking Environmental Clearance, it was declared that no forest land is involved in the said expansion proposal.
The court was also informed that on April 13, 2023, the Forest Range Officer, Asansol Range, informed the Officer-in-Charge, Jamuria Police Station, that he had conducted a spot enquiry and found that the industry had encroached 8.59 acres of forest land in response to which a notice has also been served by the Range Officer to demolish the illegal structure constructed.
The NGT directed a notice to be issued to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change; Government of West Bengal and Shyam Sel and Power Ltd. All the respondents have been directed to file their counter affidavits within four weeks.
The next hearing of the case will be on February 6, 2024.