Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered immediate steps to stop of operations of four stone crusher units in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district over alleged unauthorised activity.
The order was reportedly passed after the tribunal found prima facie evidence of unauthorised occupation of Gramya Jungle and other land beyond areas permitted under their no-objection certificates (NOCs).
The units, located in the Nihalprasad area, are near Nishinta Hill and adjoining reserve forest areas. The case was brought before the tribunal over allegations that mining and stone-crushing activities were being carried out beyond the areas for which permission had been granted.
A bench of NGT’s east zone bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members A Senthil Vel and Ishwar Singh restrained the four units from operating their crushers or undertaking mining in the areas concerned “till further orders”.
In its September 16 order, the bench directed Dhenkanal district Collector and SP to ensure compliance with the shutdown order, based on the precautionary principle under Section 20 of the NGT Act.
The tribunal also directed the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) to obtain an ORSAC assessment of the quantity of illegally mined minerals and impose environmental compensation wherever violations were established.
The matter is slated to be heard next on September 25. The tribunal was dealing with a petition filed by a Talcher-based NGO, which alleged widespread illegal mining in Nishinta hill and adjoining reserved forest areas.
The case also brought allegations of continued quarrying in the area, with blasting and heavy machinery reportedly being used for stone extraction. It was claimed that more than 20,000 tonnes of stone may have been extracted through the alleged illegal quarrying activities.
