Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Rama Shanker Awasthi Vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Others dated 20/01/2023.

Grievance raised by Rama Shanker Awasthi was in respect of operation of captive and thermal power plants by M/s Bajaj Hindustan Limited and M/s Bajaj Energy Limited at Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh in violation of environmental norms.

A report filed in compliance to the NGT order, September 27, 2022 was filed before the NGT on January 16, 2023. However, the said report is only in respect of the power plant run at Lakhimpur by Bajaj Hindustan Limited and Bajaj Energy Limited, noted the court. Other power plants running at village Barekhera, tehsil Bilaspur, district Pilibhit; village Kundarki, tehsil Sadar, Gonda, district Gonda; village Etai Maida, tehsil Utraula, district Balrampur and village Maqsoodpur, tehsil Piwayan, district Shahjahanpur have not been included in the said report.

The report also showed several serious violations on the part of project proponents at the unit inspected by it but no action has been taken against the proponent either for assessment of environmental compensation or by initiating criminal proceedings.

The court has been assured by the Member Secretary and counsel for the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board that a complete report in respect to all the units would be filed within three weeks.

The NGT, January 20 granted three weeks time to the joint committee to submit a complete report in respect of all the units and also to place on record action taken against the violators and also reason for not taking any action till date, if so.