Now Reading: NGT questions Balasore quarry over excess mining, seeks report
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NGT questions Balasore quarry over excess mining, seeks report
The National Green Tribunal has sought a compliance report within 10 days from the lessee of Jamudiha Stone Quarry-2 in Balasore district over allegations of excess mining and environmental violations. The East…
The Story in Brief
The National Green Tribunal has sought a compliance report within 10 days from the lessee of Jamudiha Stone Quarry-2 in Balasore district over allegations of excess mining and environmental violations. The East Zone Bench, comprising Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Ishwar Singh, issued the direction after a petition raised substantial questions under the NGT Act, 2010.
The petition by Manas Ranjan Barik and Manoj Parida alleges black stone was extracted beyond approved capacity, half-yearly compliance reports were not filed, and the quarry operated without a wildlife management plan despite being within 10 km of a sanctuary. Repeated blasting is said to have cracked nearby houses. Notices were sent to state authorities, the collector, and the pollution control board. The petitioners seek cancellation of the environmental clearance granted on May 5, 2025.
The Indian Opinion
This case is the usual pattern of stone quarries operating on clearance extensions and hoping no one checks the pit. The NGT's ten-day deadline is useful only if the report is verified on the ground, not self-certified. Watch whether the state pollution board inspects the site before the next hearing, and whether any official is named in the final order. If the quarry got clearance in May and was already in violation, the real question is what the district mining officer knew and when he chose to act.
Source: odishatv.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
