HC adjourns further hearing on JSW’s plea

Cuttack: The Orissa high court has adjourned further hearing on JSW Energy Limited’s plea regarding execution of an order for the removal of all the structures and machineries from the thermal power plant that had come up on encroached forest land under Lakhanpur tehsil in Jharsuguda district.
JSW had pointed out that the application for regularisation and leasing out of the unauthorised occupied land, along with environmental clearance, is still pending with the Centre.The two-judge bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice M S Raman said, “A reply affidavit has been filed on behalf of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. The said reply affidavit is being taken on record. List this matter on May 6.”
The bench fixed the date after hearing submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi on behalf of JSW Energy Ltd through virtual mode on April 8.
In the reply affidavit submitted on April 8, the ministry of environment, forest and climate change said its regional office in Bhubaneswar was asked on February 26, 2024, to inspect the area proposed for diversion, area identified for raising compensatory afforestation and submit detailed site inspection report for further consideration of the proposal. The regional office had sent the inspection report to the ministry on April 1, 2024.
In the affidavit, Padma Mahanti, deputy inspector general of forests (central) said, “Upon receiving the requisite information from the state government, the proposal will be processed as per provisions of Van (Sakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and rules/guidelines there under.”
On August 14, 2023, the high court had ordered for clearing up of the encroached forest land within 15 days on a PIL filed by Anchalik Jana Kalyan Anusthan (AJKA), a Jharsuguda-based registered society regarding constructions undertaken by Ind Barath Energy Utkal Limited (IBEUL) in 2014. The JSW Energy Ltd had taken over the management of the power plant in 2018.
On September 4, 2023, the HC extended by six months the time for execution of the August 14, 2023, order.