Cases filed against 'polluting' Bhushan cos

Dhenkanal district collector Rupa Roshan today filed two cases against Bhushan Steel Ltd (BSL) Managing Director Neeraj Singhal for alleged violation of the Forest and Environment Act.
While one case was filed under section 15 and 16 of Environment Protection Act 1986, another case was filed under provisions of Environment Impact Assessment notification, 2006.
The cases are filed in the court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM).
Proceedings under section 9 of Environment Protection Act is also pending against the company before the Collector's court. A show cause notice has been served against the company by the district collector.
This is for the first time that a district collector filed a suit against any industry in the state for causing pollution.

Bhushan Energy while increasing its capacity from 300 MW to 485 MW allegedly did not obtain any environmental sanction from the Ministry of Environment and Forest.
It is alleged in the petition of the collector that since July 15, 2010 and till February 25, 2014, Bhushan Energy Limited and Bhushan Steel and Strips Limited were engaged in air, water and land pollution causing great difficulties for the local people.
Road safety was also in danger as the company plied huge number of heavy vehicles in the operation area, the petition said.