'Green nod to Satpura power plant ignored damage to tiger habitat'
Bhopal: The environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environment clearance granted for the proposed Rs 12,000-crore expansion of the Satpura Thermal Power Plant in Betul district, Madhya Pradesh, has been challenged in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over allegations that destruction of critical tiger habitat and wildlife movement areas was kept off the record during the approval process.
The petition alleges that EIA prepared for the expansion project concealed crucial ecological facts, including the existence of Satpura-Melghat tiger corridor and regular movement of tigers and leopards near the project site.
The petition was filed by wildlife activist Adil Khan who is president of Satpura Biodiversity Conservation Society.
The expansion project, proposed by Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited (MPPGCL), received environmental clearance in 2023.
The plea states that land for the project was transferred by the forest department to MPPGCL in 2013, and that illegal tree felling has been taking place "in a surreptitious manner" ever since. The petition claims the EIA concluded there was no tiger corridor within 10km of the project site, whereas the expert appraisal committee, headed by chief wildlife warden, had objected to the finding and recorded that the Satpura-Melghat river corridor lay 2.4km from the existing plant.
Advocate Sanidhya Jain, appearing for the petitioner, stated, "The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised the importance of preserving India's green heritage," adding, "Despite clear directives, authorities are allegedly proceeding with large-scale destruction of trees."
The matter is expected to come up before NGT in the coming weeks.