Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding capsizing of a barge resulting in spilling of flyash in Sundarbans, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 13/03/2023
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Dakshin Banga Matsyajibi Forum Vs Inland Waterways Authority of India & Others dated 13/03/2023.
The matter related to the capsizing of a barge (M.V. Rafsan Habib-3 M-01-1280) near Nischintapur village in Kulpi block in Diamond Harbour subdivision of the South 24 Parganas. It is alleged that this barge was carrying fly-ash from India to Bangladesh and had capsized as a result of an accident and that the fly-ash had spilled into the sea thereby causing an environmental disaster and damaging riverine ecology of the Sundarbans. The accident is stated to have occurred on February 25, 2023.
The NGT directed the Principal Secretary, Department of Environment and the West Bengal State Pollution Control Board and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to file a status report.