Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 29:
A division bench of the Gauhati High Court has asked the State respondents to submit their affidavits pertaining to the holding of public hearing on the construction of the proposed Tipaimukh project.
Justices Amitava Roy and UB Sahu made their order on November 23 asking the respondents to furnish their affidavits on the returnable date fixed on December 8.This followed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one H Sumati Devi, general secretary of Environment Protection Committee.
The PIL contended that the public hearing on the construction of the proposed project conducted at the office chamber of Churachandpur DC on November 17 was null and void, said Advocate Nabachandra appearing on behalf of the PIL petitioner.
It prayed before the Court to issue a direction to the State respondents to hold again another public hearing so that the people who filed objection against the construction of the proposed dam would be able to join it, the Advocate said.
Pointing out the loopholes and invalidities in holding the public hearing, the Counsel said the petitioner had timely filed the objection on the matter to the authorities of Manipur Pollution Control Board.
On November 17, the petitioner along with her counsel moved to Churachandpur to join the public hearing and they reached there in time.
At the same time, some villagers who would be affected by the proposed dam also arrived in time.
On the contrary, the authorities entertained only 10 village chiefs to join the hearing at the DC's office chamber leaving behind the petitioner, the affected people and even some mediapersons, he said.
The public hearing was conducted from 12 noon to 2 pm of the same day in the absence of the rightful objectioners, he asserted.
Manipur Pollution Control Board represented by its Member Secretary, State of Manipur represented by Secretary (Environment and Forest) and DC Churachandpur are the listed respondents in the PIL.