NGT forms panel to probe illegal extraction of stone in Jajpur dist

Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) constituted a three-member committee to investigate allegations of illegal extraction of stone by the lessee at Aruha cluster, under Dharmasala tehsil in Jajpur district, and submit a report within four weeks.

The NGT's East Zone bench formed the committee on Tuesday and includes director of mines (Odisha), a senior scientist from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board, and the collector and district magistrate of Jajpur. The action was taken in response to a petition filed by Dusmant Kumar Bal, a resident of Aruha village.

Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, representing the petitioner, alleged that illegal stone extraction is occurring in Aruha cluster — serial numbers 2 and 3 — violating environmental norms, consent to establish, and other conditions. The cluster consists of five quarries spread over 148 acres.

The bench, comprising B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Satyagopal Korlapati (expert member), stated, "Considering the allegations made, we deem it appropriate to constitute a committee to visit the site in question and thereafter submit an inspection report on affidavit within four weeks with regard to the allegations made in the application."

The bench added, "The collector & district magistrate (Jajpur) shall be the nodal office for all logistic purposes and for filing the inspection report on affidavit." The matter was directed to be listed on May 19.

The petition alleged that although permission for extraction of stone from the Aruha cluster — serial numbers 2 and 3 — was granted for 42,034 cubic metres, the lessee already excavated the permissible quantity and is now illegally extracting stone beyond the permissible limit, violating EC norms. While the EC norms provide for quarrying up to a maximum depth of 6 metres and stipulate that the base of the hill shall not be touched, the lessee is not abiding by these conditions.