Cuttack: Villagers in Khamar-Nuagaon and Kolathapangi, both under Athagarh block, have approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) opposing a proposed 3 million tonne cement factory in the locality.
The residents have filed a case at the Kolkata-based bench of the NGT even though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid foundation for the factory through videoconferencing Saturday.
The forest and environment department, State Pollution Control Board, District Collector, Athagarh divisional forest officer, SEIAA and the management body of the proposed cement plant have been made parties to the case.
According to the petition, the residents of the two villages have been opposing the 3 million tonne capacity cement factory from the beginning due to which the district administration conducted a public hearing October 12, 2017. However, the hearing had to be cancelled due to stiff opposition from the villagers.
The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) gave clearance to the project July 18 this year, turning a deaf ear to the villagers’ protest, read the petition.
The petition further claimed that the authorities concerned have identified a piece of 90 acre grazing land in the locality for the cement factory. “The land identified for the cement plant was declared an elephant corridor by the forest department long ago. Moreover, the land is located within 200 metres from human settlements,” said the petition.
According to the petitioners, the proposed factory would have negative impact on the groundwater in the locality.