NGT pulls up Odisha govt, slaps Rs 10,000 penalty for delay in filing report on illegal mining

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Odisha government for not complying with its directive to file a report on alleged illegal stone mining at Nischinta Hill in Dhenkanal district. 

According to The New Indian Express, the tribunal’s East Zone Bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad, has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the state for the delay.

In its August 28 order, the bench observed that even after more than six months of its February 17 directive, the state had failed to submit the Odisha Remote Sensing Application Centre (ORSAC) report. ORSAC was tasked with quantifying the extent of illegal excavation in the region within four weeks, but no report has been filed so far.

During the recent hearing, additional government advocate Jateswar Nayak sought more time on behalf of the state. While granting a final extension of one month, the bench said the state’s inaction caused inconvenience and amounted to non-compliance with earlier orders. The matter will now come up for final hearing on November 13.

The case originated from a petition by United Youth for Sustainable Environment Trust, Talcher, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy. The petition alleged rampant stone extraction in Nischinta Hill and adjoining reserved forest areas under Gondia tehsil. It claimed that over 20,000 tonnes of stone were illegally mined using blasting and heavy machinery, without securing mandatory environmental and forest clearances.

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A joint committee constituted by the NGT had earlier submitted an interim report confirming unauthorized stone quarrying in the area.