National Green Tribunal puts interim stay on neutrino project

The petition filed by Poovulagin Nanbargal, an NGO concerned with environmental issues, has sought the dismissal of clearance granted arbitrarily by the Ministry of Environment and said that the opinion of public must be considered

In 2011, people from Theni district protested the setting up of neutrino observatory centre in Theni district, which the Central ministry of Environment had approved at the time. Following the protest, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPSCB) refused to grant permission.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest gave clearance without clarifying with the Tamil Nadu government based on a new petition filed by TATA. Against this arbitrary decision, Suderrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal has appealed the National Green tribunal against the clearance for neutrino project.

The bench of National Green tribunal which probed this issue put an interim stay but refused to dismiss the clearance granted by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.