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NGT orders probe into illegal sand mining at Gunadei Brahmani river quarry
NGT orders probe into illegal sand mining at Gunadei Brahmani river quarry

New Indian Express

time3 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

NGT orders probe into illegal sand mining at Gunadei Brahmani river quarry

CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT)'s east zone bench in Kolkata formed a fact-finding committee on Friday to investigate the allegations of illegal sand mining at Gunadei Brahmani river sand quarry in Dhenkanal. The order came in response to a petition filed by Talcher-based Youth United for Sustainable Environment Trust. The petition alleged large-scale violations of the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, at the quarry, which spans 11.80 acre in Gunadei village under Odapada tehsil. The Trust claimed that the project was continuing operations illegally, without the necessary Environmental Clearance (EC) transfer and in violation of conditions attached to the original EC granted in favour of the tehsildar on March 30, 2021. The bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar and Dr Arun Kumar Verma, issued notices to the state government, SEIAA, State Pollution Control Board, MoEF&CC, and the lessee. The five-member fact-finding committee has been tasked to investigate the site and submit a report within three weeks. In the order, the bench noted the EC was liable to be revoked after May 2022 if a satisfactory Annual Rate of Replenishment Study was not submitted, a condition that remains unmet.

Sand shortage hits real estate, govt infra projects across state
Sand shortage hits real estate, govt infra projects across state

Time of India

time12 hours ago

  • Business
  • Time of India

Sand shortage hits real estate, govt infra projects across state

1 2 Ranchi: The National Green Tribunal 's ( NGT ) ban on sand mining from June 10 to October 15 for monsoon has led to a sand crisis across the state, severely affecting construction work in both govt and private sectors. The restriction, aimed at curbing environmental degradation during the monsoon season, has led to an acute shortage of sand, causing prices to surge exorbitantly. With sand supply halted, ongoing infrastructure projects, including road development, housing schemes, and public utility construction, have either slowed down or come to a complete standstill. Private builders and contractors are also bearing the brunt of the shortage. Many real estate projects have been delayed, leading to cost overruns and growing frustration among investors and homebuyers alike. Sand mining from riverbeds stopped in Jharkhand on June 10 in accordance with the NGT order. A Ranchi-based contractor who builds buildings for state govt, Rohit Agarwal, claimed, "Sand shortage have forced work to come to a halt. Unavailability of sand is causing delays in construction which would eventually lead to delay in completion of projects. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo A few projects are ongoing by some contractors who have their own sand stock otherwise a lot of projects are on halt." The president of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Paresh Gattani, said, "Sand shortage across the state is creating major inconveniences. Price of sand has become exorbitantly high and businessmen are procuring sand from Bihar." Within the span of a month, rates of sand have increased at least Rs 10,000- 15,000 per truck. "Before the ban was, it was around Rs 40,000 for a truck, which has now become Rs 50,000- 55,000 a truck of sand from Bihar," said Vikash Kumar, a businessman. State mines director, Rahul Kumar Sinha, said, "Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation has a stock of around 80 lakh cubic feet of sand and parties needing sand can procure it through its website."

NGT orders probe into ‘illegal' sand mining in Dhenkanal
NGT orders probe into ‘illegal' sand mining in Dhenkanal

Time of India

time12 hours ago

  • Time of India

NGT orders probe into ‘illegal' sand mining in Dhenkanal

1 2 Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered an investigation into alleged illegal sand mining at a quarry in the Brahmani river in Dhenkanal district. The directive came during a hearing on Friday on a petition filed by a Talcher-based NGO which alleged that sand was being mined illegally over 11.80 acres from the river at Gunadei village under Odapada tehsil, flouting several environmental norms and guidelines. The petitioner's counsels, Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy (appearing virtually), claimed the project was operating in violation of the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, issued by the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change. Taking note of the charges, NGT's east zone bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) constituted a five-member fact-finding committee comprising officials from the Dhenkanal administration, Odisha State Pollution Control Board, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), and the mines department. The Dhenkanal district magistrate will act as the nodal officer for coordination. The committee has been directed to conduct a site inspection and file a report on affidavit within three weeks. The matter has been listed for next hearing on Aug 19. NGT in its order noted that the original environmental clearance (EC) granted on March 30, 2021, to the Odapada tehsildar, was conditional upon submission of an annual rate of replenishment study (ARSS) by May 2022 — a requirement that was not fulfilled. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dolly Parton, 79, Removes Her Makeup and Stuns Everyone The Noodle Box Undo On July 12, 2023, the EC was transferred to a private lessee. However, SEIAA flagged it as a "violation case", acknowledging that the quarry had operated without proper transfer of clearance. The petition alleged that although the lessee was permitted to extract only 8,618 cubic metres of sand in the third year, mining exceeded permissible limits within just four days, with over 100 trucks operating daily, suggesting extraction of nearly 2,000 cubic metres per day. Other allegations include mechanical mining in violation of manual mining conditions, lack of demarcation at the site, unapproved district survey report and failure to display statutory clearances. Use of heavy vehicles was also said to be impacting the river's flow and local infrastructure.

Pollution at Powai Lake: NGT orders setting up of panel for remedial measures
Pollution at Powai Lake: NGT orders setting up of panel for remedial measures

Indian Express

time19 hours ago

  • General
  • Indian Express

Pollution at Powai Lake: NGT orders setting up of panel for remedial measures

Amid concerns over the deteriorating state of Powai Lake, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the constitution of a joint committee to inspect the lake within two weeks and submit a report laying out remedial action to control pollution levels at the lake. The committee will comprise members of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Maharashtra State Wetland Authority (MSWA), The order, uploaded on Friday, took cognisance of an application filed by Rakesh Bakshi, a member of DK Flag Foundation, who flagged that nearly 80 per cent of the lake's surface is engulfed by invasive water hyacinths, rapidly depleting oxygen levels and endangering aquatic life, including its crocodile population. Hearing the application on July 10, the NGT bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmad found prima facie substantial questions relating to environment, under the enactments specified in Schedule-I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. Pointing to the environmental concerns flagged, the NGT has called for the formation of a joint committee comprising officials of the CPCB, MPCB and the MSWA to conduct a joint site visit within two weeks and verify the grievances. The MPCB has been made the nodal agency for coordination in the committee, who have been directed to submit a report outlining the remedial measures. The report is expected to be submitted before the NGT's Western Zone Bench at Pune within one month. Meanwhile, with the application raising concerns over neglect by the the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the NGT has also issued notices to BMC, MPCB, MSWA and the state government, directing them to submit a response by September detailing remedial measures and causes for neglect of the water body. Earlier this month, the BMC floated a Rs 71 crore tender to set up a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at the lake to treat the sewage water. According to civic officials, nearly 18 million litres (MLD) of sewage water flows into the lake. Of the total 18 MLD, nearly eight million litres of sewage is proposed to be treated at the STP treatment plant, before being discharged back to the lake. Meanwhile, to improve the water quality, the remaining eight million litre waste waste will be diverted to the STP in Bhandup while the remaining two million litre water will be diverted for treatment to the STP near Mithi River. The civic plan came along the heels of a campaign launched by the civic-appointed Advanced Locality Management committee and NatConnect Foundation. 'Powai Lake is the victim of a long neglect by officials and elected representatives. While the BMC has thankfully stepped in now, the process of executing the work of diverting the sewer and setting the treatment plants must be transparent and time-bound,' said B N Kumar, director of the environment watchdog group, NatConnect Foundation.

Arrest of former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel's son Chaitanya is tactics to crush people's voice, says Priyanka Gandhi
Arrest of former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel's son Chaitanya is tactics to crush people's voice, says Priyanka Gandhi

The Hindu

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • The Hindu

Arrest of former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel's son Chaitanya is tactics to crush people's voice, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday (July 19, 2025) claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's son as he was about to raise in the Assembly the issue of forests in the State being allegedly "handed over" to the Adani Group, and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to "crush the voice of the people." 'The ED on Friday (July 18, 2025) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of the senior Congress leader, in an alleged liquor scam-linked money-laundering case,' official sources said. Mr. Chaitanya was later sent to a five-day ED remand by a court. "The BJP government has handed over all the forests of Chhattisgarh to Adani ji. The forests are being destroyed in defiance of the PESA Act and NGT directives. Former Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel ji was about to raise this issue in the Assembly. To stop him, ED raided his house early in the morning and arrested his son," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi. In the last 11 years, the country has understood that these are ways to "crush the voice of the people and suppress the Opposition," she said. "But it is impossible to suppress the truth and scare the Opposition with such tactics. Every Congress worker stands firmly with Baghel ji," Priyanka Gandhi said. Mr. Chaitanya was taken into custody by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following fresh early morning raids on Friday (July 18, 2025) conducted at his residence in Bhilai town of Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same house. Bhupesh Baghel alleged that the Central agencies were being misused to target Opposition leaders, but asserted that he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate with them. Congress MLAs boycotted the proceedings of the State Assembly for the day as a mark of protest against the arrest and accused the agency of trying to harass the Opposition. ED sources said Mr. Chaitanya was arrested under Section 19 of the anti-money laundering law as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following receipt of fresh evidence in the case. According to the ED, 'The alleged liquor scam in the State was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.' Assets worth about ₹205 crore of various accused have been attached by the ED as part of this investigation so far, according to the agency.

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