Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a joint committee to investigate allegations of illegal and unscientific extraction of laterite stone from the Olasingh Laterite Stone Quarry-C in Khordha district.
The committee comprises representatives of the Integrated Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Bhubaneswar; the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB); and the District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner of Khordha.
The District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner of Khordha will serve as the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.
The committee has been directed to visit the site, examine the grievances raised by the applicant, verify the factual position and recommend appropriate remedial measures.
It has also been asked to submit its report within one month.
The Eastern Zone Bench of the NGT in Kolkata constituted the committee while hearing an original application filed by Trinath Palei, who alleged continuing environmental degradation due to mining activities at the quarry located in Olasingh village under Tangi tehsil of Khordha district.
The Tribunal also issued notices to the state government, concerned authorities and the private quarry lessee, directing them to file their responses within one month.
The matter has been listed for further consideration October 26, 2026.
The respondents include the Odisha government, Khordha Collector, Tangi Tahasildar, Director of Geology, Deputy Director of Mines, DFO Khordha, MoEF&CC regional office, OSPCB, SEIAA, ORSAC and private lessee Abhimanyu Behera.
The plea said environmental clearance for the quarry was granted to the Tangi Tahasildar June 30, 2021, and transferred to the private lessee July 13, 2022.
The clearance allows annual extraction of 2,000 cubic metres of laterite stone from 12.35 acres (five hectares).
The applicant alleged that the quarry operator extracted minerals far beyond the permitted quantity and lease boundaries.
Referring to Google Earth imagery, the application claimed that excavation had covered around 5.19 hectares and estimated that, even at a conservative depth of three metres, the quantity of excavated material could be around 1,55,700 cubic metres, compared to the permitted extraction of 10,000 cubic metres over the five-year lease period.
The plea further alleged that mining operations were being carried out in violation of conditions stipulated in the Environmental Clearance, Consent to Establish, Consent to Operate and the approved mining plan.
Among the alleged violations were mining beyond the approved quantity and permissible depth, excavation outside the lease area, transportation of minerals through village roads, violation of safety zones, failure to develop a green belt, non-implementation of the progressive mine closure plan and non-compliance with environmental safeguards.
The applicant also alleged that despite a condition requiring the plantation and maintenance of at least 1,000 saplings of native species along approach roads, safety zones and community areas in consultation with the Gram Panchayat, no plantation had been undertaken at the site.
Taking note of the allegations, the NGT observed that the application raised substantial questions relating to the environment and ordered notices to be issued to all the respondents.
