The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stopped POSCO from cutting trees at its project site with immediate effect. Since the district administration had not received the order, the felling of trees continued yesterday even after the tribunal’s order.

On a petition filed by Odisha-based activist, Prafulla Samantara, the Green Tribunal directed the Odisha Government to stop cutting trees at the POSCO site in Jagatsinghpur district. The government will review the order and take its future course of action, said Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik.

The tribunal has also issued notices to the state government, centre and POSCO. Prafulla Samantra had argued that the cutting of tree was affecting the local environment and ecology. According to him, around 2,80,000 tress have been cut so far for the POSCO project, which could lead to an environmental disaster.