Jajpur: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed to collect penalty from a leaseholder of Dhanatri sand ghat in Baitarani river after convicting him on charges of using earthmover for sand mining in violation of lease norms and environmental clearance, under Korei block in the district.
As per reports, the tribunal passed the order in connection with a case filed before it by Krushna Chandra Khatua of Gobindpur village, Kishore Chandra Pal of Ranapal village and Sarat Chandra Jena of Dhanatri village, under the block. The tribunal passed the order after the charges leveled by the complainants was proved during the hearing of the case. The leaseholder was identified as Bikash Swain, a resident of Sailashree Vihar in Bhubaneswar. The tribunal also directed the state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA) to take necessary steps in assistance with the district Collector and fix the penalty amount. The leaseholder will have to be served with a notice and the penalty should be collected within three months of the notice.
Moreover, immediate steps should be taken to revoke the environmental clearance sanctioned to the leaseholder, the order stated. Meanwhile, the order has been welcomed by the residents of the riparian villages. However, observers appeared skeptic over the implementation of the order. They alleged that sand mining continues unabated at Dhanatri and other ghats of Baitarani river with the use of earthmovers in alleged violation of norms. The tribunal has directed time and again to seize those heavy equipment but the authorities have failed to implement the order.
Residents alleged that illegal sand mining is taking a heavy toll on human habitats and environment in the riparian villages. The sand laden trucks regularly pass through the villages resulting in environmental damage in these areas. The residents drew the attention of the sand miners but they allegedly refused to listen and continued with their wrongdoing. Irked, the residents under the aegis of Korei Sangram Samiti had staged several agitations in past but to no avail. The rural works department had even sought the intervention of the regional transport officer (RTO) to end the impasse over illegal plying of sand laden trucks through the villages but in vain.
Left with no option, the residents lodged a complaint with the National Green Tribunal in connection with the regular plying of sand laden trucks from Dhanatri sand ghat through their villages which they alleged has impacted the rural forests, reserve forests, village roads and village cremation grounds. The district Collector had previously directed the Vyasanagar tehsildar to not allow plying of sand laden trucks via reserve forest lands in Gobindpur village. However, the leaseholder continues to ply his sand laden trucks. The regular plying of trucks has allegedly destroyed more than 120 trees and caused serious damage to the area and its environment.
