The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has levied Rs 42 crore fine on a private construction company engaged in rail track laying work from Nirgundi to Bhadrak, for illegal extraction of minor minerals.
RTI activists Srikant Paikal and others had moved the apex green tribunal alleging that Sambalpur-based Shanti Construction Company had resorted to day broad day light of minor minerals from Tangi-Choudwar tehsil of Cuttack district.`
The petition had sought for NGT’s intervention alleging illegal lifting of weathered laterite and ordinary earth from Mania, Uchapada under Tangi-Choudwar Tahasil under Cuttack district from Government land without any Environment Clearance.
The illegal mining is being carried out by felling big trees from revenue and forest land. The district authorities turned a deaf ear to the complaint lodged by the petitioners.
Though the Tahasildar collected royalty and penalty, the officer shied away from initiating deterrent action like Criminal Prosecution to prevent further illegal mining. The mining is being done indiscriminately without a mining plan, environment management plan, and reclamation plan and environment clearance, the petition alleged.