Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has now ordered inspection of working of a stone quarry unit near Jhilli village in Dhenkanal district which was accused of operating in violation of several environmental laws.
This comes after a petition was filed before the NGT by the villagers who accused the unit of mining in excess of the permissible limits, felling of trees, illegal blasting and causing damages to nearby houses with their industrial works.
A three-bench of the NGT headed by Justice Adarsh Goel in the latest written order has directed formation of a joint inspection panel and ordered them to file a field report within a time frame.
“The above allegations need to be first looked into by a joint committee comprising the State Pollution Control Board, District Collector, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Central Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment and Forest,” the NGT order said.
“The joint committee may ascertain facts and consider the view point of the affected parties. Based on the facts found, the concerned authorities may take appropriate action, following due process of law. The nodal agency will be the state PCB for coordination and compliance. A factual and action taken report may be furnished within three months,”
The aggrieved villagers in their petition had said that the stone quarries at Jhilli hills by a private party were working without an environmental clearance and consent to operate. They claimed that the illegal works were posing a threat to lives, properties and agricultural land.
It was also alleged that the powerful blasts have led to the development of cracks at many house walls and made them accident prone. The firm was also alleged to have felled sal trees for expansion of their works.
The NGT earlier had halted the operations of the unit till further inquiry into the matter. The villagers and the unit often are seen engaged in verbal duels due to the differences.
PNN