HC orders issue of notices on plea against power plant

The Madras HC today ordered issue of notices to the Union Environment and Forests Ministry, Tamil Nadu's Energy Department secretary and special thasildar of Ultra Mega Power Project in Kancheepuram on a plea seeking direction to withdraw proceedings for land acquisition for the 4000 MW project in Cheyyur and adjoining villages.
The petitioner, K Saravanan, also challenged acquiring of lands for a Captive Port in Cheyyur, Kancheepuram district.
He contended that clearance given for the Captive Port and UMPP were challenged before the National Green Tribunal, South Zone, on ecological grounds.
NGT had also issued interim orders not to finalise the award for bidders for the establishment of the port, he submitted.

The lands for the proposed the power plant was not visited by the Site Selection Team of the government, the petitioner submitted.
The First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sathish K Agnihotri and Justice K K Sasidharan, directed the authorities to file their reply within two weeks.