NGT to decide the fate of Kanhar dam Wednesday

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal will take up the final hearing in the case of the controversial Kanhar dam in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday.

Following a petition in the case last year, the green court Dec 24 stayed the construction of the dame in in Uttar Pradesh's Maoist-affected Sonebhadra district as impermissible for lack of a valid environment clearance (EC). It was contended the previous EC and forest clearance to the Kanhar dam project, first envisaged in 1976, was not valid after 38 years.

Despite the stay order, the Uttar Pradesh government went ahead with the construction and the petitioners approached the court early last month with a contempt application against the state government.

Taking cognizance of the contempt, the NGT sought a reply from the state government but it failed to comply within the stipulated 10-day period.