Keonjhar: The Kolkata bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a penalty of over Rs 6 crore over mining firm Serajuddin and Co towards environmental loss at its Balda iron ore mines in Joda mining division of Keonjhar district. Sources said, the tribunal has directed the mining firm to deposit the penalty with Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
Acting on the order, the member secretary of SPCB in a letter (7070, dated May 9, 2024) has asked the mining firm to deposit the penalty amount. Earlier, while hearing an environmental damage case (OA No. 173/201/EZ) between Ramachandra Mahant and others versus M/s Serajuddin & Company, a special bench of the tribunal had ordered a joint investigation of the mines owned by Serajuddin & Company, April 21, 2022.
Later, a joint inspection committee consisting of Keonjhar DFO, Champua Sub-Collector, scientists of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the regional officer of SPCB in Keonjhar visited the mines to determine the penalty towards environmental loss, July 11, 2022. The committee fixed the penalty amount at Rs 6,00,18,750 towards damages for environmental loss after a ground study of the mines. Moreover, the committee urged the mining firm to implement the mine restoration plan. The District Collector of Keonjhar submitted the joint committee report with the registrar of NGT, Eastern Zone bench at Kolkata, August 1, 2022. After studying all the reports, the tribunal directed for realisation of the penalty amount from the mining firm.
Acting on the order, the member secretary of SPCB has asked the company to deposit the penalty. However, it was learnt that the mining company, instead of depositing the penalty, went to court to delay the implementation of the order and avoid paying the amount. Sources alleged that the Justice Shah Commission, which was inquiring about illegal and irregular mining, found illegality in the work of this company and imposed a fine. Regional Officer, SPCB, Keonjhar, Prasant Kar said that the company moved the court against the NGT order and is yet to deposit the penalty towards the environmental loss. Subas Mohanty, senior manager of the company, said that the order was stayed by the court and the matter is sub-judice. Further steps will be taken after the court hears the matter and issues a fresh order, he added.
