NGT Admits Appeal Against Odisha River Sand Mining

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has admitted an appeal filed against the environmental clearance granted for a sand mining project located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. The clearance was issued by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for a 12.35-acre sand bed along the Budhabalanga River. The appeal challenges the validity of this clearance, which was initially granted on January 31, 2022, and later transferred to a private lessee in February 2026.

Bibekananda Pattnaik, a resident of Baripada, lodged the appeal alleging multiple procedural irregularities. Key among these are claims that the environmental clearance was granted and subsequently transferred without the mandatory site inspection. Furthermore, the appellant contends that his objections were not adequately considered during the appraisal process. The NGT's East Zone bench acknowledged that the appeal raises arguable issues and has admitted it for a hearing.

In response, the NGT has issued notices to several key officials, including the Odisha chief secretary, the Mayurbhanj collector, and representatives from the mining department and SEIAA. The private lessee has also been served notice. All parties are required to file their responses within one month. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for May 13, 2026. The appeal also questions the clearance's basis, citing the absence of a valid District Survey Report (DSR) and a lack of cumulative environmental impact assessment.