Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine on the state government for failing to submit a report of Odisha Remote Sensing Application Centre (ORSAC) in connection with a case related to rampant illegal mining operations in Gondia area of Dhenkanal district, official sources said Wednesday. “While hearing the plea February 17 this year, the environment watchdog had directed the state government to file the ORSAC report with regard to the quantum of excavation.
The government, however, failed to submit the report despite a lapse of six months,” said Sankar Pani, the advocate representing the applicant, Youth United for Sustainable Environment Trust, Wednesday. The state government has been asked to submit the ORSAC report to the commission and pay the fine of Rs 10,000 to the Secretary, Bar Association, NGT, Principal Bench, Delhi, within one month.
It is pertinent here to mention that Youth United for Sustainable Environment Trust highlighted the issue of illegal mining in and around Nischinta hill in Nihalprasad Mouza under Gondia tehsil of Dhenkanal district. It further accused that the illegal mining has been resulting in damages to the forest land as the Nischinta hill is a part of Nischinta Reserve Forest, and it is a gross violation of the Forest Conservation Act. In its complaint, Youth United for Sustainable Environment Trust drew attention towards the presence of four illegal stone crushers in the forest land as reported by the Forest Range Officer, Sadangi Forest Range. “Stone mafias is operating the stone quarry and crusher without any approval of the authorities.
Section 163 of BNSS 2023 is also imposed in these areas to curb the illegal mining of minor minerals from these areas,” alleged the petitioner. It also claimed that the prohibitory order is just an eye wash and illegal quarrying continues on a day-to-day basis and the same has also been published in leading Odia dailies as well as a few citizens have brought it to notice of authorities on social media and through email as well.