In a significant reprimand, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) of India’s Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata has expressed strong disapproval of the Directorate of Geology & Mining in Assam for failing to respond in a case regarding illegal sand mining in the Kaldiya River located in the Bajali district. On May 21, 2025, the tribunal declared the Directorate’s inaction as “seriously condemnable,” imposing a penalty of Rs. 5,000 for the delay.
This legal dispute began when Arup Jyoti Das and others filed an Original Application (No. 196/2024/EZ), raising concerns over environmental violations, particularly illegal sand extraction occurring within 200 meters of a concrete bridge, utilizing JCB excavators. These actions reportedly contravene the Sand Mining Guidelines established in 2016 and the Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining put forth in 2020.
The applicants argued that such mining activities have inflicted harm on the riverbed, local roads, and culverts. They also claimed that the project proponent was engaged in unauthorized sand mining while holding a permit solely for ordinary clay mining.
In a recent hearing, the tribunal, comprising Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member Dr. Arun Kumar Verma, voiced frustration at the incomplete filings from the Assam Directorate of Geology & Mining, despite having received multiple chances to respond.
An order dated March 3, 2025, had already granted an additional three weeks for the Directorate to present detailed actions taken against illegal miners and report on environmental compensation recovery. Yet, as of now, no response has been submitted.
The tribunal stated, “The conduct of the Directorate of Geology & Mining in not filing a reply despite repeated opportunities is seriously condemnable.” In a bid to ensure justice, the tribunal has given the Directorate one final month to submit its counter-affidavit, contingent upon the imposed penalty.
The earlier Joint Committee Report had indicated various transgressions by project proponents. However, the tribunal noted a lack of information from the Assam State Pollution Control Board regarding actions taken against those violations, particularly regarding environmental compensation.
Furthermore, the Assam State Pollution Control Board has been afforded one month to file a response, specifying the measures taken against the project proponent for the environmental law breaches.
The case is scheduled for a further hearing on August 5, 2025. The NGT’s original application prompted the establishment of a committee tasked with site inspections and the creation of a fact-finding report, comprising a senior scientist from the Assam State Pollution Control Board and a representative from the Bajali district administration. The tribunal also sent notices to numerous stakeholders, including the State of Assam, the SEIAA, and the project proponent Kishor Kalita, requesting their responses.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/environment/ngt-pulls-up-assams-geology-mining-directorate-over-illegal-sand-mining-probe-imposes-fine.html
Category: Assam,Environment,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2025-05-25 07:15:00
