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The Supreme Court on Tuesday reprimanded a non-governmental organisation (NGO) for opposing a renewable energy project at Maharashtra's Jayakwadi dam. The court asked how the country will progress if every project is opposed. The Jayakwadi dam area has been designated as a reserved bird sanctuary and an eco-sensitive zone.
The court raised questions on the authenticity of the NGO
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also questioned the authenticity of the NGO 'Kahar Samaj Panch Samiti' and asked, "Who has set you up and funded you? What is your past experience in environmental protection?"
The bench had rejected the petition of the NGO
The bench dismissed the NGO's petition challenging the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order of September 9, 2024. It said the NGT had properly assessed the NGO's plea and found no ground to interfere with the tribunal's order.
So how will the country progress- SC
The bench said, "You are not allowing even a single project to work. If every project is opposed, how will the country progress? Even with the solar power project you have a problem." The lawyer appearing for the NGO argued that the Jayakwadi dam area is an ecologically sensitive area and the project will affect the biodiversity there.
Attempts to obstruct the project by litigation
On this, the bench made a sharp remark and said that it seems that the company which failed to get the tender has funded the NGO. Now it is trying to obstruct the project by indulging in 'frivolous litigation'.
NGT did the right thing by seeking answers from the ministry: SC
The Supreme Court said the NGT was right in seeking a response from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which clarified the position and produced the Centre's notification dated July 12, 2017, which said production of renewable energy and fuel was among the activities being promoted.
The NGT bench has also rejected the petition
The NGT's western zone bench had dismissed the NGO's plea on December 9 last year, saying the petitioner (NGO) failed to cite any example of law which prohibits such activities in ecologically sensitive areas. The NGT had taken cognizance of the fact that THDC India Limited (formerly Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited), owned by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), and the Ministry of Power of the Maharashtra government had issued a tender with the idea of setting up a 'floating solar power plant' at Jayakwadi dam located on the Godavari river at Jayakwadi village in Paithan taluka of Sambhajinagar district of the state.
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