By Arindam Ganguly, OP
Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed fines of Rs 10,000 each on the Chief Secretary of Odisha and six other government authorities for failing to file their responses in a case concerning alleged illegal mining and environmental violations at a black stone quarry in Jajpur district.
The Eastern Zone Bench of the NGT in Kolkata passed the order while hearing an application filed by Urbashi Jena against the State of Odisha and others. The Chief Secretary has been named as Respondent Number 1 in the case and is among the authorities directed to pay the costs.
The Tribunal also imposed Rs 10,000 fine each on the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Superintendent of Police Jajpur, Tehsildar of Dharmasala, Deputy Director of Mines, Jajpur, and Deputy Director General of Forests (Central), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The NGT noted that it had granted respondents four weeks to file their responses. However, the authorities failed to submit their replies within the stipulated period and sought more time during the hearing. Observing that non-compliance with directions for filing replies and reports results in unnecessary adjournments, delays and inconvenience, the Tribunal said appropriate costs were required to be imposed on defaulting parties.
The Bench granted the defaulting respondents one more opportunity to file their responses within one month, subject to payment of Rs 10,000 each as costs.
