Bhadrak-Nirgundi railway track: NGT orders OSPCB to collect Rs 1.2 crore fine

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) to recover Rs 1.2 crore as environmental compensation from a private contractor for illegally mining morrum during the construction of the Bhadrak-Nirgundi third railway line.

The NGT’s east zone bench in Kolkata, in a directive issued on May 2, emphasised the firm’s repeated violations of environmental norms, stated reports from The Times of India.

Committee Confirms Unauthorised Mining

A joint committee formed by the NGT confirmed the illegal extraction of morrum and laterite in Tangi-Choudwar tehsil, Cuttack district, after investigating a petition filed by local residents.

The committee, comprising officials from mining, pollution control, forest, and district administration, recommended the Rs 1.2 crore fine, citing the contractor’s failure to obtain mandatory environmental clearances.

Despite the contractor’s claim that other firms were involved, the tribunal noted the firm had previously paid Rs 4 lakh as royalty and penalty for similar violations, making it a “habitual offender.”

Railways’ Role and Contractor’s Defence

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) admitted hiring the contractor for earthwork and minor bridges between Byree and Kapilas Road.

However, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) clarified that no environmental clearance was granted for mining in Cuttack or other districts. The contractor argued it was unfairly singled out, but the NGT dismissed this, stating evidence focused solely on their violations.

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NGT Bans Further Excavation

In an interim order, the NGT banned the contractor from further excavation of earth or morrum until the case concludes.

The bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar and expert member Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati stressed the need to prevent environmental damage during the project’s pendency.

Next Steps in the Case

The tribunal allowed the contractor until July 11 to file a counter-affidavit. Earlier, the committee had proposed a higher penalty of Rs 42.45 crore, but the NGT limited the fine to Rs 1.2 crore for morrum extraction, avoiding commentary on the initial computation to ensure a fair judicial process.