Kamal Ghorui
CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken cognisance of alleged large-scale environmental violations in a sand mining project in Odisha’s Ganjam district and issued notices to multiple authorities.The NGT’s East Zone Bench was hearing a petition filed by Rajani Kanta Padhy, a resident of the district. The plea alleged that the Kharida Sand Bed Mining Project undertaken by a private lessee, spread over 13 acres at the confluence of the Rushikulya and Ghorahara rivers in Hinjilicut tehsil, is operating in violation of environmental norms and statutory conditions.The petition alleged that the project has breached Environment Clearance (EC) conditions, Consent to Operate (CTO) norms and national sand mining guidelines. It also alleged the use of heavy machinery such as excavators and Hyva trucks, which are prohibited in such operations. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy made submissions on behalf of the petitioner.Taking note of the submissions and materials on record the Bench comprising Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Dr A Senthil Vel observed: “Prima facie the averments made in the application raise substantial questions relating to environment arising out of the implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule-I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.”Accordingly, in the March 17 order uploaded on Tuesday (March 24) the Bench directed its registry to issue notices to the chief secretary of Odisha, Ganjam district collector, deputy director of mines (Ganjam circle), divisional forest officer (Berhampur), superintending engineer (irrigation), tahasildar of Hinjilicut, Member Secretaries of Odisha State Pollution Control Board, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and Chief Executive Odisha Space Application Centre..The respondents have been asked to file their replies within four weeks. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 22, 2026.According to the petition mining is being carried out by the lessee beyond the sanctioned lease area and permissible extraction limits. It alleged that activities in restricted zones, including riverbanks and safety areas, have disrupted the natural flow of the rivers. Riverbanks are reportedly being cut to facilitate the movement of vehicles, aggravating ecological damage.Flagging gaps in compliance, the petition pointed out that mandatory environmental safeguards — including annual replenishment studies and pre- and post-monsoon surveys — have not been conducted. Monitoring systems such as GPS tracking, CCTV surveillance and electronic transit passes were also stated to be absent.The plea raised concerns over overloaded vehicles transporting sand through rural and populated areas, leading to air pollution and damage to roads.
