The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Kolkata Bench has sought status and action-taken report (ATR) from Chief Secretary, Jajpur district Collector and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority within three weeks.
Upon hearing a petition regarding illegal sand mining filed by one Satis Biswal, the petitioner contended that river bed sand mining in Brahmani river are continuing in Dharmasal tehsil without an environmental clearance, mining and rehabilitation plan.
The bench consisting of Justice PK Ray and Prof PC Mishra observed that there is a substantial question of implementation of statutory provision and protection of environment and admitted the application for adjudication.
Petitioner’s counsel Sankar Prasad Pani argued that the ongoing sand mining is in violation of Section 27B of Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2004 and Amendment 2014, violation of Supreme Court order in Deepak Kumar Case, Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006.
The petitioner further alleged that during transport of the sand, the vehicles are not being covered and there by causes air pollution and inconvenience to the villagers and school children.
Further the Tribunal has restrained the Dharmasala tehsildar from issuing temporary or permanent permit for sand mining to any party who has not been granted environment clearance.