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Time of India
03-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NGT seeks report on removal of legacy waste in Bargarh town
1 2 Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state housing and urban development department to file an action taken report (ATR) regarding complying of orders issued earlier for removal of legacy waste dumped for the past 10-15 years in western Odisha's Bargarh town. NGT's east zone bench in Kolkata gave the direction while hearing a petition on July 28 seeking criminal proceedings against the authorities for non-compliance of orders the tribunal had issued on March 23, 2023. Ramakanta Rout and six other residents of Purushotam Nagar in ward 15 under Bargarh Municipality filed the petition. Delay in remediation of legacy waste dumpsites had resulted in huge damage to the environment and posed health hazards for people living in the vicinity, the petition contended. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy represented the petitioners. In its March 2023 order, the tribunal had directed the complete treatment of the waste through bio-mining, micro-composting centres or material recovery facilities by Dec 31, 2023. State govt was also instructed to deposit Rs 1.84 crore in an escrow account to fund the remediation. During the hearing, the tribunal examined an inspection report filed by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board and reviewed the Bargarh Municipality's response to a notice. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo According to the response, a detailed project report (DPR) was prepared but returned by the govt with directions to provide a detailed cost estimate for a wastewater treatment plant. The DPR has since been resubmitted to the engineer in-chief of the Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board (OWSSB), Bhubaneswar. Taking it on record, the bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member), said: "We direct the housing and urban development department to file an affidavit within four weeks to show what action has been taken. It may be noted that Rs 1.90 crore has already been released by the state govt to the Bargarh Municipality." The bench also directed the municipality authorities to file a separate affidavit detailing how the funds are being utilised in line with its directives. The matter was listed for next hearing on Sept 10. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Time of India
NGT hauls up authorities for fly ash dumping on forest land
1 2 3 Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday pulled up Odisha authorities over large-scale dumping of fly ash on forest land in Dhenkanal district and directed the Odisha State Pollution Control Board to identify the violator and initiate action, including recovery of environmental compensation. A Talcher-based NGO had filed a petition alleging that more than five acres of forest and govt land under Parjang tehsil had been encroached and fly ash illegally dumped. The petitioner was represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy. The NGT's east zone bench in Kolkata had on Feb 25 constituted a committee led by the collector (Dhenkanal) to investigate the matter. Following an inspection on April 17, 2025, submitted a report on May 7, confirming the allegations, stating that there was large-scale dumping of fly ash over forest land, estimated at 40,687 MT, spread over 16,275 square metres (approximately 4 acres). In the July 22 order, the bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) observed that while the inspection confirmed the dumping, the committee was silent on the source of the fly ash. The bench criticised local authorities, including the tehsildar, divisional forest officer and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board, for failing to detect the dumping, calling it a case of "dereliction of duty. " The NGT has directed the Odisha State Pollution Control Board to thoroughly investigate the source and violator, and initiate environmental compensation proceedings after giving the violator due notice and hearing. "Proceedings for recovery of environmental compensation shall be initiated against the violator," the order stated, while seeking a compliance report by Dec 31, 2025. On the issue of encroachment on govt revenue land, the bench clarified it did not fall within its jurisdiction unless an environmental aspect was involved. It took note of eviction proceedings already initiated against a private party encroaching upon Gramya Jungle land and asked the state authorities to complete the process and restore the land through tree plantation. For the part of Khalpal reserve forest found without forest growth, the bench directed that native tree plantation be carried out and the area secured with fencing or proper markings by Oct 31, 2025.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- 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.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NGT issues notice over ‘illegal' constructions on forest land in Jajpur district
CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) east zone bench in Kolkata, on Monday, issued notices to the state government and other authorities over alleged constructions on forest land in Jajpur district. The tribunal while hearing a petition filed by Kailash Chandra Nayak, a resident of Nuadihi village under Danagadi tehsil of Jajpur district also issued notice to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Alleging that large-scale construction projects are being undertaken illegally over forest lands in Danagadi and Sukinda blocks, the petitioner claimed that they are being funded by the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Fund with approval from the district collector of Jajpur, who also serves as the managing trustee of the DMF. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy representing the petitioner alleged that these constructions are being carried out without prior approval from the central government as required under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Taking note of the allegations, the bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (Expert Member) stated, 'Matter requires consideration,' and issued notices to the additional chief secretary, state Forest, Environment and Climate Change department, district collector Jajpur, BDOs of Danagadi and Sukinda, tehsildars of both blocks and the divisional forest officer Cuttack. They have been directed to file counter-affidavits within four weeks. The matter is listed for next hearing on August 25. According to the petition, on November 21, 2023, the collector issued a letter to the BDO of Sukinda for construction of activity rooms in 132 primary schools at a cost of Rs 13.20 crore. Later, on January 24, 2024, the collector sanctioned Rs 13.10 crore for additional classrooms and `14 crore for activity rooms in 140 schools in Danagadi block. The petition claims massive concrete structures are being erected on land recorded as forest, which, as per a 2011 clarification by the Revenue department, falls under the purview of the Forest Conservation Act. The petition seeks immediate intervention to halt non-forest activities on forest land until clearance is obtained and calls for declaration of the constructions as illegal.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT notice to ministry, state govt over ‘illegal' construction on forest land
1 2 3 Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued notices to the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change, Odisha govt and several officials over alleged illegal construction on forest land in Jajpur district. The petition, filed by Kailash Chandra Nayak of Nuadihi village under Danagadi tehsil, sought intervention against construction being carried out by the state govt on forest land in Danagadi and Sukinda blocks without mandatory approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The petitioner, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, claimed these constructions are being carried out without any forest clearance from the Centre. A representation was submitted to the authorities on March 30, but no action has been taken so far, the petition claimed. The bench, comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member), noted the matter "requires consideration" and issued notices to the additional chief secretary (forest, environment and climate change), district collector of Jajpur, BDOs and tehsildars of Danagadi and Sukinda and the divisional forest officer (Cuttack). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing you should Ditch over 40 Learn More Undo All respondents have been directed to file their counter affidavits within four weeks. The case was listed for the next hearing on Aug 25. According to the petition, massive concrete structures are being built using funds from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) with the approval of Jajpur district collector, who is also the managing trustee of DMF. It was alleged that on Nov 21, 2023, the collector issued a letter to the Sukinda BDO for constructing activity rooms in 132 primary schools at a cost of Rs 13.20 crore. On Jan 24, 2024, he again approved Rs 13.10 crore for additional classrooms and Rs 14 crore for activity rooms in 140 schools under Danagadi block. The petition sought a halt on all non-forest activities being carried out on forest land without prior central approval and demanded that such constructions be declared illegal.
