GUWAHATI, May 27 - The Eastern Zone (EZ) Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd, the executing agency of the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP), not to undertake any construction activities of the project.
In its May 24, 2016 order in connection with Case No. 346/2013 filed by the Assam Public Works (APW), the NGT EZ Bench said that the interim order granted on December 11, 2015 shall continue until further orders. The said interim order stated that Respondent No. 3 (NHPC) was directed not to undertake any construction work on the main project until further orders, except the urgent repair and maintenance work.
It needs mention here that the advocate for the applicant, Sanjoy Upadhyay submitted on April 5, 2016 that the NHPC was not just undertaking repair and maintenance work as stated by them and recorded in the EZ Bench order of December 11, 2015, but was carrying out full-fledged construction work of the project.
The advocate for the applicant also submitted that since this in clear violation of the December 11, 2015 order, the intervention of the Tribunal in this regard was necessary. However, Senior Advocate KP Pathak, appearing for the NHPC, denied the allegation on that day and asserted that the NHPC is strictly undertaking maintenance and repair work which was allowed by the Tribunal�s EZ Bench.
The EZ Bench of the Tribunal stuck to its December 11, 2015 order.
The case is listed for August 2, 2016 for final disposal by the court, comprising Judicial Member Justice SP Wangdi and Prof (Dr) PC Mishra, Expert Member.
