Jaleswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has started hearing the case on illegal sand mining by the Bengal mafia from river Subarnarekha in Balasore district Tuesday. However, the state government has not put forth its arguments.
Social activist Sudarshan Das had moved a petition with the main division bench of the NGT against illegal sand mining. The hearing was conducted by Justice Wajad Rahim, Justice Raghubendra Rathore and expert Satyaban Singh.
The state government’s counsel did not reply on the issue while Jagdish Prasad Meena, the Collector of West Midnapore, put forth his reply in an affidavit on behalf of the West Bengal government.
On the petition of Das, NGT’s Kolkata bench had issued an interim order asking the Collector and the SP of West Midnapore district to act against the sand mafia.
The NGT had also ordered seizure of swamp pump sets and other tools used by the sand mafia. However, the administration just imposed a fine on the sand mafia and released their vehicles.
The Collector is planning to lease 32 sand quarries in the river. Nine of them have already been leased out. Such a lease in fact violates laws governing inter-state river and boundary disputes.
Das said the state government has neglected the issue and that is unfortunate. The next hearing will be held August 8. Both the sides have been asked to state their responses, it was learnt.
PNN
