Express News Service By

CHENNAI:A city-based environment activist has moved the Southern Bench of National Green Tribunal challenging the environmental clearance accorded to the construction of India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at Bodi hills in Theni district,

In his petition, G Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal, stated that the INO project was a proposal to construct an underground laboratory to hold experiments at the cutting-edge of neutrino physics. The immediate goal of the project is the creation of the laboratory as well as building a large magnetised iron calorimeter detector to study naturally-produced neutrinos in Earth’s atmosphere.

He said the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), one of the participating institutes in the project, issued a press release on January 1, 2015, informing the public that the Ministry of Environment and Forest had given approval to the setting up of the observatory at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore. Only after the issuance of the press release did the public come to know of the clearance given to the project based on an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). Sundarrajan alleged that authorities failed to publish information about the Environment Clearance in the media within 10 days from the date of issuance as has been mandated by law.

The Central government said the INO is a mega science project under the 12th Plan. The INO is to be located in Tamil Nadu, as the steep slopes of the Western Ghats provide ideal and stable rock conditions for building a large underground cavern for long term use. The members of INO admitted that the laboratory is to be located in an ecologically sensitive environment and are hopeful that during its normal operation phase, the laboratory is not expected to cause any damage to the environment, he added.

Further, Sundarrajan alleged that about six lakh tonnes of rocks are to be extracted for the purpose of the project but there is no detailed study regarding the impact of blasting of large quantity of rocks on the aquifer, the rivers and the reservoirs in the Environment Impact Assessment. He contended that in some instances, it is extremely difficult or impracticable to restore the original hydrodynamic equilibrium of hills, and the tunnel construction can alter water supply for drinking, irrigation and industrial uses, with major economic and social repercussions on wide neighbouring areas.