J. Sagar Associates (JSA) represented M/s Brahmani River Pellets Limited (an iron ore beneficiation plant and a 4MTPA pellet plant connected through an underground slurry pipe) regarding challenge to its Joint Venture Agreement with the Government of Odisha for drawal of water from Baitrani River before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The NGT vide its judgment dated August 5, 2014 disposed the Application on the grounds that the Application was devoid of merit and not maintainable since;

• The permission granted for the drawal of water from Baitrani River does not fall within the seven (7) enactments under the Schedule to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
• The Application was barred by limitation due to prior knowledge of the event to the Applicant.
• The Applicant has failed to prove that the project would cause any environmental damage and there are no complaints of causing pollution been made against the project proponent.

The JSA team comprised Partners – Amar Gupta (who argued the matter), ApoorvaMisra&Mayank Mishra; Senior Associate – Vishrov Mukherjee and Associate – Vandana Anand.