6 Govt Officials Suspended For Illegal Mining In Odisha’s Nayagarh

Nayagarh: Six government officials were placed under suspension for their alleged role in illegal mining in Ranpur area of Odisha’s Nayagarh district.

The six officials were suspended by the district collector of Nayagarh in connection with illegal mining at Mayurjhalia under the jurisdiction of Ranpur tehsil, sources said.

The suspended officials included two Revenue Inspectors (RI), two Section Officers, a supervisor and a junior revenue assistant. They faced the action for their alleged role in excess mining operations in an illegal manner in the area.

It may be noted here that cases were filed against 11 persons at the police station following the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently. While two of those against police cases were slapped were mine lease holders, nine others happen to be government officials for illegal extraction of laterite stone/soil/murram beyond the lease area.

A few locals had reportedly approached the NGT against the two lease holders. Based on their complaints, the NGT had directed the district administration to initiate criminal proceedings against the two.

The NGT has also issued directions to the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Odisha to compute environmental compensation against the two and recover the same from them in accordance with law.