CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) East Zone Bench has ordered a joint committee inquiry into allegations of large-scale illegal and unscientific extraction of laterite stone from Olasingh laterite stone quarry-B in Khurda district.
The bench of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (judicial member) and expert members A Senthil Vel and Ishwar Singh directed the committee to visit the quarry site, verify the allegations and suggest remedial measures.
The petition was filed by Khurda resident Sarbeswar Bhol, who alleged that although environmental clearance (EC) was initially granted to the tehsildar, Tangi, on June 30, 2021, and subsequently transferred to the private lessee on May 2, 2023, the quarrying operations were being carried out in violation of the EC, consent orders and approved mining plan.
“Prima facie the allegations made in the petition raise substantial questions relating to environment,” the tribunal observed. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Asutosh Padhy appeared on petitioner’s behalf.
The committee will comprise representatives of the MoEF&CC’s Integrated Regional Office, Bhubaneswar, OSPCB and Khurda district administration. It has been directed to associate the petitioner and lessee during verification.
The tribunal also directed the committee to quantify the alleged violations and suggest remedial action. Its report and respondents’ replies are to be filed within a month. The matter has been posted for October 26.
The bench also issued notices to the state Forest, Environment and Climate Change department, Khurda collector, Tangi tehsildar, directorate of Geology, deputy director of Mines, DFO, Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC) and the private lessee, directing them to file responses within a month.
According to the petitioner, permission was granted for extraction of 2,000 cubic metres annually from 5 hectares (12.35 acres). He alleged that excavation had exceeded both the permissible quantity and depth and extended beyond the lease boundary.
Other alleged violations included transportation through village roads, breach of safety-zone norms, failure to develop a green belt, non-compliance with the progressive mine closure plan and failure to submit quarterly compliance reports.