New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a committee to conduct an inspection in respect to illegal stone quarrying being conducted at Khurda district and submit a report within two months.
A two-judge bench of the tribunal comprising Judicial Member K Ramakrishnan and Expert Member Satyawan Singh Garbyal constituted the committee comprising senior officer of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Director of Mines, scientist/senior officer from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and District Collector and directed to conduct joint inspection of the place.
“The committee is directed to conduct joint inspection and submit a report on violation of law, if any, in conducting the quarry by the persons within two months from the date of service of the order. The committee shall function under the chairmanship of District Collector. The Pollution Control Board will be the nodal agency for convening the meeting and inspection,” the bench observed.
Significantly, a petition has been filed in the NGT alleging that some people are conducting illegal stone quarry and stone crushers along with others in Jariput Mouza and Jaymangalpur Mouza of Kunjuri Gram Panchayat in Khurda district without getting any work order from Tehesildar and consent to operate from State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
According to the applicant, there are nine quarries operating in that area having an extent of 29 acres illegally. Further, it is mentioned in the application that in the areas adjoining the quarries and the national highways, more than 32 stone crushers including one mega stone crusher within 200 meters on both sides of national highway are also operating illegally in violation of sitting criteria.
Advocate Shankar Pani, who represents the petitioners, said the illegal stone quarries have been causing massive environmental pollution in Tangi area. “Powerful explosives are being used at the stone quarries. Several roads and houses in the locality have developed cracks due to the explosions,” Pani said.