By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 30, 2017: In what appears to be a serious blow to Chhattisgarh, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday asked it to withdraw the writ petition challenging an order of Kolkata bench of National Green Tribunal to halt construction of 31 projects being carried out by it on the Mahanadi River.

Odisha government has raised objection to these projects saying that it would lead to drastic fall in the water flow to the state.

The Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty directed Chhattisgarh to withdraw the petition failing which the bench will pass order of non-maintainability. The court adjourned hearing on the matter till November 2 on specific request of Chhattisgarh.

The bench held that appeal against any order of the NGT is not maintainable before the High Court under Section 22 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.

On July 26 last, the NGT had issued the stay order on 31 projects while adjudicating an application filed by social activist Sudarsan Das on behalf of Agami Odisha, a voluntary organisation. The application raised concerns over impact of barrages on environment, ecology, biodiversity and people residing in the downstream of Mahanadi River in Odisha.