NGT Orders Rs 1 Cr Interim Penalty On Odisha Sand Mining Operator

Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Odisha State Pollution Control Board to impose Rs one crore penalty on a sand mine operator for carrying out illegal mining in Subarnarekha river bed in Balasore district.

In an interim measure, NGT’s eastern zone bench at Kolkata directed the sand quarry operator to deposit Rs one crore towards environmental compensation to OSPCB within one month till final computation is carried out, reports said.

The amount will be utilised for restoration of the damaged embankment of Subarnarekha and for other damages caused to the river, the NGT ruled.

It directed the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Odisha to re-determine environmental compensation for illegal extraction of sand from 2017 to 2021 with the help of satellite imagery.

The order was given on a petition that accused the operator of carrying out illegal sand mining in the Subarnarekha river, Benapur-Mouza, Basta Tehsil of Balasore district, in violation of the Mining Plan, Environmental Clearance conditions, Consent to Operate conditions, Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guideline 2016 and Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020.

The determination of environmental compensation will be completed by the SEIAA, Odisha, within two months and once compensation is determined due notice of the same shall be given to the respondent inviting its objections, if any, to such computation, the NGT said in a recent order.

After considering the representation submitted by the respondent, the SEIAA, Odisha, will determine the final environmental compensation.

The NGT bench further directed the Collector and District Magistrate of Balasore to lodge an FIR against the then Tehsildar of Basta during 2017 to 2021 when the illegal extraction of sand has occurred according to the SEIAA, Odisha. The NGT directed the SEIAA, Odisha and District Magistrate of Balasore to furnish a compliance report by way of affidavits by January 31, 2023.