JUDGEMENT

Delivered by Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member.

1. The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi took cognizance Suo Motu based on the letter petition received from the villagers of A.V. Nagaram, Kodada, K. Perumallapuram Villages of Thondangi Mandal, Kakinada District, Andhra Pradesh on 19.07.2022 and registered a case as Original Application No.869 of 2022 (PB).

2. The complainants/Original Applicants are raising concerns about the proposed pharmaceutical unit viz., M/s. Auro Active Pharma Private Limited (a subsidiary of M/s. Aurobindo Pharma Limited). The unit is being established on 150 Acres of land (Survey Nos.349 to 353) in the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), an area prone to flooding. Floodwaters from nearby villages accumulate on this land for up to 30 days before draining into the sea. Raising the land by five feet to develop the facility will obstruct this natural water flow, causing severe flooding in surrounding areas like A.V. Nagaram, Kodada, and AK Mallavaram, leading to loss of crops, livestock, and potential loss of life.

3. The further allegation is that the unit is located just 1.5 km from A.V. Nagaram and Kodada,