Dhenkanal: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a joint committee to investigate the allegations of rampant illegal stone mining in and around Nischinta hill under Gondia tehsil of Dhenkanal and submit a report by the second week of December this year.
The panel – comprising representatives of MoEF&CC Regional Officer (Bhubaneswar), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Director of Mines and Geology, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and District Magistrates of Dhenkanal and Jajpur – will meet within two weeks, undertake site visits, look into the grievances of the applicant, verify the factual position and take appropriate remedial action, the eastern zone bench of the environment watchdog ordered while hearing a plea filed by ‘Youth United for Sustainable Environment Trust’.
“The OSPCB will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance. The factual and ATR should be submitted at least one week before the next date of hearing,” the NGT said, posting the next hearing to December 20, 2024. The NGT also served notices on the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary of Forest department, Dhenkanal District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Gondia Tehsildar, Divisional Forest Officer of Dhenkanal, OSPCB Member Secretary, Director of Mines and Geology and Deputy Director of Mines seeking their responses on the allegation at least by the second week of December this year.
The petitioner had informed the tribunal that illegal mining is rampant in and around Nischinta hill despite imposition of Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. “Crooks are extracting more than 20,000 tonne of stone illegally by blasting and using heavy machines. Illegal quarries and four stone crushers are operating in Raigada village under Gondia tehsil in brazen violation of norms,” the petitioner alleged. The petitioner urged the NGT to direct the authorities to identify and prosecute the unscrupulous elements operating the stone quarries and stone crushers.
“The authorities should assess the extent of minerals, including black stone, excavated illegally and its market value, cost of restitution and environmental compensation and subsequently recover it from the persons involved,” the petitioner said. The petitioner also urged the tribunal to direct the District Magistrate to initiate criminal proceedings under Section 19 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 against the mining mafias. These apart, constitution of a court monitored special task force for stringent enforcement of mining and environment laws against the mafias was among the petitioner’s prayers.
PNN