Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Draupadi Bai Vs State of Chhattisgarh dated 25/09/2023.

The applicant in his petition said that Rukmani power plant is running at village Ranisagar/Kunkuni, district Raigarh, Chhattisgarh for quite some time which is a bio-mass based plant and is illegally using the coal and ash is being thrown haphazardly in the agricultural fields. Further, allegation is that power plant is using 270 MT coal per day and it stops ESP (electrostatic precipitator) at night, as a result of which huge quantity of PM10 and PM 2.5 particulate matters spread in the nearby villages and forest.

The plant is using ground water in huge quantity (700 cubic meter per day) without permission of water resources department and smoke from the plant is affecting the wildlife and biodiversity. The plant is releasing the effluents in the nearby agricultural fields, affecting the fertility and till now the plant has not taken any corporate social responsibility (CSR) in respect of the villages from where the land has been acquired. The road used by the heavy vehicles going to the plant is damaged completely, said the complaint.

The court was of the opinion that the matter is important in respect to environment and violation of environmental laws and directed notice be issued to Rukmani power plant. The court also directed formation of a joint committee comprising the Secretary, State Pollution Control Board and the District Magistrate, District Raigarh.The Joint Committee will carry out the spot inspection and ascertain the truthfulness of the allegations specifically mentioning requisite details regarding compliance with EC/consent condition, CSR activities, green belt development use of approved fuel. The committee has been directed to submit the action taken report within 8 weeks before the Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal.