Govt fails to comply with NGT order: MDAVO
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 23 2015:
Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation (MDAVO) has flayed the State Government for failing to comply with the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Kolkata issued on July 28 last.
In a press note, MDAVO Vice Chairman Themson Jajo said that Justice Pratap Kumar Ray, Judicial Magistrate had directed the State Government that the suggestion of the Court Commissioner made in his report before the NGT court regarding construction of Protective Bund to halt the submergence of the village (Chadong) should be followed.
However, defiling the order, there is no such steps or action taken up by Government even after 26 days of passing the order, said the press note.
The NGT Court passed the order based on a three-day investigation report of the Court Commissioner at Mapithel Dam from July 15 to July 17. It can be recalled that, eight petitioners of Mapithel Dam affected villages filed a case before the NGT on July 20, 2013 against the violation of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Forest Right (Recognition of ST and other traditional forest dwellers right) Act, 2006 in the construction of Mapithel Dam project without acquiring mandatory Environment and Forest Clearances for almost 33 years.
According to the NGT orders dated November 12, 2013 and November 20, 2013, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest halted the dam construction for seven weeks due to non compliance of National Forest laws.
The 33 years illegal construction violating the Green laws were corrected within 41 days when the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest conceded the final clearances on December 31, 2013 .
Questioning the legality and mandatory procedures of granting the clearances, it was confirmed through RTI that no Site Inspection carried out by the concerned Ministry from New Delhi and Shillong.
Based on this, the affected villagers filed an appeal before the same court on January 24, 2014.Final hearing for the impending case falls on August 26, in Kolkata.