A correspondent
TANGLA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata has imposed a stay on mining activities in Udalguri district, citing non-compliance with environmental regulations on January 17. The order, passed in an Original Application vide number 05/25 follows concerns over the absence of a District Survey Report (DSR) which is essential for assessing the environmental impact of mining operations. The case was brought before the tribunal highlighting violations of the directions previously issued by the Tribunal in Original Application No.86/2024/EZ (Pradeep Singh Shekhawat -Vs.- Union of India) wherein the Tribunal had held that District Survey Report is mandatory for mining of minor minerals.
Moreover, the Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining (EMGSM-2020) issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) also mandates requirement of District Survey Report(DSR) before approval of any mining plan or issuance of tender for mining minerals however the Dhansiri forest division Udalguri and Udalguri district administration have of late grossly violated the statutory requirements and in turn turned blind eye towards rampant unscientific mining practices in river beds which have adversely impacted the flora and fauna and led to environmental degradation of the district causing concern of environmental activists and conscious circles.
The tribunal in its order further constituted a Fact-Finding Committee to investigate allegations of illegal mining in Udalguri district wherein the committee comprising a Senior Scientist from the Assam State Pollution Control Board along with District Commissioner, Udalguri or a representative not below the rank of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and Director of Geology and Mining, Environment and Forest Department, Assam or a representative have been tasked with conducting a site visit and submit a report within three weeks.
The investigation will focus on verifying the various aspects including the status of sand mines in Udalguri and illegal and unscientific mining activities in the district. The tribunal further directed in its order that the Udalguri District Commissioner will ensure that if the District Survey Report (DSR) has not been approved by the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) all mining activities within the district shall remain stayed.
Following the tribunal’s directive and follow-up by the Udalguri District Commissioner the Divisional Forest Officer, Dhansiri Forest Division, Udalguri, Mustafa Ali Ahmed vide an order on Monday has stayed all mining activities until further order. He further directed the range officers to serve the order and obtain a written acknowledgement from lease/permit holders and directed the permit holders not to operate any mining in contempt of the tribunal order. The NGT’s directive has literally put a blanket ban on mining activities in the district causing concern among those associated with the construction sector and mining industry.
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