Mahanadi row: Chhattisgarh’s writ petition against NGT order not maintainable, says Calcutta HC

Bhubaneswar/Kolkata: In yet another jolt to Chhattisgarh, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday asked it to withdraw the writ petition challenging an order of Kolkata bench of National Green Tribunal to halt construction of 31 projects undertaken by the State on the Mahanadi River.

The Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty directed Chhattisgarh to withdraw the petition failing which the bench will pass order of non-maintainability. The court adjourned hearing on the matter till November 2 on specific request of Chhattisgarh.

The bench held that appeal against any order of the NGT is not maintainable before the High Court under Section 22 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.

The green court had issued the stay order on July 26 on 31 projects while adjudicating an application filed by social activist Sudarsan Das on behalf of Agami Odisha, an apolitical forum, raising concerns over impact of barrages on environment, ecology, biodiversity and people residing in the downstream of Mahanadi River in Odisha.