CUTTACK: National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s East zone bench in Kolkata Wednesday ordered a fresh inquiry into alleged illegal stone quarrying at Rahadpur cluster in Jajpur district’s Dharmsala tehsil. The bench, comprising B Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Arun Kumar Verma (Expert Member), directed the deputy director of mines, Jajpur, to conduct the fresh inquiry with the assistance of Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC).
The bench expected an assessment of the quantum of minor minerals excavated, mining beyond the lease area, and excess mining at Rahadpur.
The bench also expected the fresh inquiry to obtain an accurate picture regarding the distance of the minor irrigation projects (Paikarapur and Ranibandh) from the quarry lease area and Rahadpur cluster with ORSAC’s assistance.
The tribunal was hearing the petition in which Babuli Jena and other residents of the nearby area alleged that illegal quarrying in the form of excess mining was being done close to two minor irrigation projects (MIPs).
Earlier, the green body formed a committee to probe illegal stone quarrying in Rahadpur cluster. The committee included senior scientists from Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), deputy director of mines (Jajpur), and district collector (Jajpur).
Subsequently, the inquiry report was submitted along with an affidavit filed by OSPCB stating that the dam of the MIPs was over 200 metres from the leased quarry area. However, the tribunal ordered the fresh inquiry on Wednesday after advocate Sankar Prasad Pani, along with advocate Asutosh Padhy representing the petitioners, raised questions about the report.
The report was absolutely vague and tried to protect the illegal mining, as well as cover up the lapses on the part of the regulatory authorities that granted consent to operate (CTO) and were accountable for monitoring compliance with the conditions, the counsels for the petitioners alleged.
The petition alleged that illegal and uncontrolled blasting for stone mining was causing damage to houses and roads, agricultural lands, depletion of groundwater, and pollution. The stone quarrying was also impacting the Ranibandha and Paikrapur MIPs and causing siltation of the dam.
The petition also highlighted several violations of environmental clearance conditions by the lessee, who was granted a lease for building stone/road metal comprising areas covering a total mineralised area of 104.77 acres.
