Baripada: Acting on an order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding alleged illegal sand mining from Budhabalanga river in Mayurbhanj district, police Monday arrested a sand quarry leaseholder Pradeep Bindhani. The police also registered a case against Badasahi tehsildar who has fled the district fearing arrest.
The smuggling of the minor mineral was reported from Arapata and Dingira sand quarries on the river.
Badasahi police registered two cases (114/22 and 115/15) – one against the leaseholder and another against the tehsildar – and made the arrest after the eastern bench of NGT issued an order to the Mayurbhanj district administration.
Sadar sub-collector Anya Das directed the assistant collector Geeta Murmu to file complaint with Badasahi police.
The district administration also recommended the state Revenue and Disaster Management department to suspend the Badasahi tehsildar and take disciplinary action against the officer.
Reports said that the matter came up before NGT after Radha Mohan Singh, a local, filed cases 30/22 and 31/22 with the apex green body alleging illegal mining and transportation of sand from Arapata sand quarry of the Budhabalanga river. The green panel admitted the cases for hearing.
Judicial member Justice B Amit Sthalekar and expert member Saibal Dasgupta heard the matter and directed the leaseholder to pay over Rs 17.3 crore as penalty. The bench also directed the district Collector to register cases under relevant Sections of IPC, CRPC and Misappropriation of Public Funds Act-2002 against the Badasahi tehsildar and the leaseholder. The Collector was asked to personally file an affidavit before the NGT.
Consequently, the office of the sub-collector vide its letter no-3986, dated April 30 directed the Badasahi police to register cases against the tehsildar and the leaseholder.
Meanwhile, tehsildar Mumtaz Moharana has fled outside the district fearing arrest.
Locals demanded action against other officials involved in illegal sand mining and smuggling which they claim will go a long way in curbing sand smuggling from the river in coming days.