HC asks Odisha govt to file ATR on Brahmani river pollution within 2 weeks

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Oct 18:

The Odisha High Court has directed the state government to submit an action taken report on pollution in river Brahmani, within two weeks, on the basis of the report compiled by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The CPCB submitted its report on pollution in river Brahmani in a sealed cover to a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Indrajit Mohanty and Justice S C Parija, on Friday.

The High Court while directing that a copies of the Central body’s report be sent to the state government and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board, ordered the state government to file its action taken report within two weeks while fixing the next date of hearing in the matter after two weeks.

It may be noted that the High Court had suo motu registered a case in the matter following filing of a letter petition, based on media reports, highlighting high level of pollution in river Brahmani, its branches and other water bodies due to chromite mining in Sukinda valley as well as due to discharge of effluents by industries.

Considering the seriousness of the issue the High Court taken up the matter and conducted hearing.

During the course of its hearing the OSPCB had submitted its report on the matter to the bench. The court, while expressing its dissatisfaction over the OSPCB report in May this year, had directed the CPCB to file a fresh report in the matter.

CPCB’s report was submitted by its counsel Bibhu Prasad Tripathy in the High Court on Friday.