Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a joint inspection into allegations of illegal construction of an ash pond by a private aluminium manufacturing company near Siriapali village in Jharsuguda district.The NGT’s east zone bench comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh constituted a joint committee comprising representatives of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and district magistrate, Jharsuguda.The panel has been directed to visit the site within two weeks, verify the factual position and suggest appropriate remedial action. The OSPCB will coordinate the exercise, with the committee report to be filed at least a week before the next hearing on Sept 15.The tribunal was on July 15 hearing a petition filed by Umesh Pradhan and five other residents of Parmanpur gram panchayat, who alleged that the private aluminium manufacturing company was constructing an ash pond only 100-150 metres from the village, contrary to the alleged 500m distance requirement under OSPCB guidelines.
