A team of delegates of Baitarani Banchao Abhijan comprising Sri Murali Manohar Sharma, Sarbeswar Mishra, Pabitra Maharatha and Subhas Chandra Pattanayak visited the site of intake well illegally constructed by the ESSAR Steel Orissa Ltd on 28 February 2013 as reports reached them that after its illegalities were challenged in the National Green Tribunal, the company has dismantled the intake well. The team found that the intake well has really been dismantled the day before they reached the spot.
In a press conference the next day they informed that Abhijan leaders Sarbeswar Mishra and Murali Manohar Sharma have moved the NGT to intervene in the matter of water hijacking by ESSAR Steel which has become a national as well as international issue.
The Abhijan leaders, through their lawyer Sri Bibhu Prasad Tripathy have alleged that the water hijacking by ESSAR is meant to provide bonanza to the company while creating unemployment amongst the general public, particularly transportation operators, drivers, vehicle attendants, forest dwellers and the farmers.
The Abhijan leaders have further moved the NGT for a spot visit to get first hand views and data on the serious damage done to the eco-system in blatant contravention of the laws of the land.
The ESSAR Steel on coming to know of the possible spot inspection by the NGT, have dismantled the intake well to remove the most speaking proof of its illegalities, the team members alleged.
The Abhijan is of definite views that dismantling of the intake well by ESSAR Steel Orissa Ltd over the River Baitarani is not only designed to wipe out the proof of its illegal construction of the intake well, but also is a deliberate attempt to derail the nation’s highest environmental jurisprudence.
The Abhijan has strongly condemned the illegality resorted to by ESSAR Steel in the instant case and has called upon the State Government to initiate stiff penal prosecution against the scheming company for this serious mischief played against the public.