National Green Tribunal
News Item Titled "Hasdeo Mei Pedo Kee ... vs Coram: Hon'Ble Mr. Justice Prakash ... on 21 March, 2024
Item Nos. 13 to 15 Court No. 1
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 59/2024
(IA No 137/2024, IA No 136/2024)
News item titled "Deforestation for mining resumes in Hasdeo locals
activists allege detention" appearing in The Hindu dated 22.12.2023
WITH
Original Application No. 128/2024
News Item titled "Activists allege thousands of trees felled in Hasdeo for
coal mining" appearing in www.downtoearth.org.in dated 04.01.2024
WITH
Original Application No. 133/2024
News item titled "Hasdeo mei pedo kee katai TS Singhdev ne kaha - CM
Vishnudev Sai Khood Aadivasi jarur samjhenge jal jangal jameen ka
astitva" appearing in ETV Bharat.com dated 26.12.2023
Date of hearing: 21.03.2024
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
Respondent: Mr. Abhishek Pandey & Mr. Manuraj Singh, Advs. for the State of
Chattisgarh
Mr. Abhinay, Ms. Deeksha Prakash & Ms. Parul Khurana, Advs. for
CECB
Mr. Archit Krishna & Ms. Priya Vats, Advs. in I.A No. 136/2024
Ms. Shibani Ghosh & Mr. Yogesh Malik, Advs. in I.A No. 137/2024
ORDER
1. In these Original Applications, registered on the basis of news item, the issue involves relates to deforestation for mining activities in Hasdeo forest in Chhattisgarh in the process of clearing of land for mining in Parsa East Kete Basan (PEKB) Phase-II.
2. In terms of the direction of the Tribunal dated 22.01.2024 in O.A. No. 59/2024, the reply/response dated 20.01.2024 on behalf of PCCF, Chhattisgarh and also the additional affidavit dated 18.03.2024 on behalf of the State of Chhattisgarh have been filed. 1
3. Learned Counsel appearing for the State of Chhattisgarh submits that meanwhile there is a change of panel of Advocates of State of Chhattisgarh, therefore, his Vakalatnama is still awaited.
4. Considering the circumstances of the case, we deem it proper to implead the following as respondents in O.A. No. 59/2024:-
i. MoEF&CC through the Secretary
ii. PCCF, Chhattisgarh Forest Department, Jail Road, Aranya
Bhawan, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
iii. Collector and District Magistrate, Hasdeo Korba iv. M/s Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd., Vidyut Bhawan, Jyoti Nagar, Janpath, Jaipur-302005
5. Let Notice be issued to the above respondents for filing their response at least one week before the next date of hearing.
6. I.A. No. 136/2024 and I.A. No. 137/2024 have been filed in O.A. No. 59/2024 seeking impleadment. Let the copy of these IAs be supplied to the respondents for filing their response.
7. List on 03.07.2024 Prakash Shrivastava, CP Sudhir Agarwal, JM Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM March 21, 2024 Original Application No. 59/2024 (IA No 137/2024, IA No 136/2024), Original Application No. 128/2024 & Original Application No. 133/2024 SN 2