Home / Environment / NGT Orders Probe into Illegal Stone Extraction
NGT Orders Probe into Illegal Stone Extraction
9 Sep
Summary
- NGT ordered a joint inspection of a stone crusher unit.
- Allegations include illegal extraction and blasting on allotted land.
- A committee will investigate and suggest remedial actions.
A private stone crusher unit in Nayagarh district, Odisha, is under scrutiny by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) following allegations of illegal stone extraction and blasting. The NGT's east zone bench ordered a joint inspection after a local resident filed a petition alleging that the unit was operating on plots not allotted to it, without necessary environmental clearances and permissions.
The tribunal constituted a joint committee comprising representatives from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the Nayagarh district administration. This committee is tasked with visiting the site, examining the applicant's grievances, and verifying the factual situation within two weeks. The petitioner and a representative of the crusher unit are to be associated with this process.
Notices have been issued to several authorities, including the state forest department and the Nayagarh collector. The respondents have been given two months to file their replies, and the joint committee is also expected to submit its report within the same period. The NGT has set November 18 for further consideration, including arguments on a plea for interim relief.
