The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday imposed a status quo on tree felling for the `12 billion Posco Steel Project in Jagatsinghpur district.
Hearing a petition on tree feeling in the area, a bench of the NGT, headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, observed that the project proponent does not have Environmental Clearance (EC) as on today.
In an earlier judgment, the permission granted to Posco India was kept under suspension and it was to remain in force till an appropriate order in review or otherwise was passed by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on the recommendations of the Expert Committee, the NGT order said.
Moreover, the proceedings are still pending and the Environmental Clearance in favour of the project continues to remain suspended. Meanwhile, the NGT received a petition that a large number of trees are being felled by the project proponent without permission of any competent authority. Basing on the facts and circumstances, the NGT directed that status quo be maintained on cutting of trees. For the ill-fated project which has faced various hurdles, the Odisha Government has so far been able to acquire over 2,600 acre land against an initial requirement of 2,700 acre for the downscaled 8 million tonne per annum steel plant.