NGT: Recover Environmental Compensation in 2 Months

Illegal mining at Bheluguri Stone Mahal

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The Kolkata bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) disposed of an Original Application with a direction to the District Magistrate & Collector of Hojai district, Assam, to take steps in consultation with the State Pollution Control Board for determination and recovery of environmental compensation from persons involved in the illegal mining at Bheluguri Stone Mahal, under Doboka police station. The determination of environmental compensation has been directed to be completed within one month from the date of the order, and the District Magistrate is to recover the same from the violators within a further one month.

The NGT’s Coram of Justice B. Amit Sthalekar as Judicial Member and Dr Arun Kumar Verma as Expert Member disposed of the Original Application (No. 66/2025/EZ) registered on the basis of a letter petition dated March 19, 2025, sent to the National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, by the applicant, Lakhya Jyoti Medhi, President, Sanatan Jagrato Senani, Assam. The Tribunal disposed of the OA after perusing the report of the DFO and the fact-finding team, which inspected the area on June 22, 2025.

The fact-finding team set up by the Tribunal, however, reported that no sign of illegal stone mining was seen and no no machinery was found on the spot. The DFO, Nagaon, stated that mining has been going on in the concerned area since 2000, a year after obtaining forest clearance and other necessary clearance.

The allegation in the letter petition is that some stone smugglers of Bheluguri Gaon, P.S.- Doboka, District- Hojai, Assam, have been extracting minor minerals from the Stone Mahal there since January 4, 2024, without a valid Forest Clearance or Environmental Clearance (EC) from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Assam.

It was also stated that the Bheluguri Pahar is the only source of drinking water for the downstream villagers, which is at a distance of 300 metres, and more than 1000 houses depend upon the water source.

After hearing the counsel for the parties and perusing the documents on record, the Tribunal observed that merely because it is stated that mining has been done by local villagers whose livelihood depends upon it, the same does not condone illegal mining. Illegal mining is an offence against the State, causing loss to the State Exchequer and Revenue, as well as causing environmental stress, and since it is admitted that there are certain illegal mining activities where immediate action has been taken by the Forest Department, the Pollution Control Board should be constantly vigilant to check illegal mining and take immediate action against persons involved in illegal mining and recover penalty and royalty as well as environmental compensation from such persons.

The Tribunal ruled that the determination of environmental compensation shall be completed within one month hereafter (Aug 11, 2025), and the District Magistrate shall proceed to recover the same from the violators within a further one month.

Also, that the affidavit of compliance has to be filed by the Hojai District Magistrate & Collector by November 15, 2025. With this, the OA was disposed of.

 Also Read: Assam: Battalion on forest land; NGT disposes of original application

Also Watch: