NGT lens on pvt mining project ‘flouting’ norms

Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday directed the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) to file an affidavit on the status of implementation of its order on expansion of a mining project in Keonjhar district by a private leaseholder company.
The NGT’s east zone bench in Kolkata sought the affidavit after an application alleged non-compliance of the order the tribunal had issued on May 21, 2022, on violation of Environmental Clearance (EC) conditions during expansion of the Balda block iron mining project.
The bench of B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) listed the matter for further hearing on May 28.
Initially, Rama Chandra Mahanta, a resident of Keonjhar, filed an application alleging violation of EC conditions during expansion of the mining project in 2017. Then, the NGT had directed the ministry of environment, forests and climate change to enquire into the allegations and to submit a report.
After the ministry submitted a report indicating violations, the NGT on May 21, 2022, issued direction to statutory regulators to take further remedial action for compliance of the EC conditions as well as assessment and recovery of compensation for the past violations, following due process of law.
“Compensation should be assessed by a joint committee of Central Pollution Control Board, state PCB and district magistrate, with state PCB as nodal agency on polluter pays principle, considering the extent of violations, period of violations, cost of remediation and deterrent element, with reference to financial capacity of the violator. This may be done within three months,” the order had specified.
The issue returned to the tribunal with Mahanta filing a fresh application seeking intervention against non-compliance of NGT’s direction.