Ensure water for animals near N-power plant: NGT to Haryana

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Haryana government and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to ensure availability of water for animals near a proposed 2800-megawatt nuclear power plant in the Fatehabad district of the state.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the Manohar Lal Khattar government and the project proponent to provide water ducts so that animals from the nearby areas can quench their thirst in the scorching heat.

"The Haryana government and the project proponent should ensure availability of water for the animals and provide water holes immediately," the bench said.

The NGT was hearing a plea filed by NGO Akhil Bhartiya Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha challenging the environment clearance granted to NPCIL and seeking its quashing.

The direction came after advocate M C Mehta, appearing for the NGO, said the scarcity of the water and inaction of the authorities to take urgent steps to ensure availability of water, was likely to affect the wildlife.

The Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojna project at the Gorakhpur village will have four units each of 700-MW capacity, and is to come up at a cost Rs 23,502 crore.

A total of 1,503 acres of land has been acquired for the plant, of which the lion's share of 1,313 acres belongs to the Gorakhpur village. The entire land was acquired from 847 families.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)