The national green tribunal has directed to create a committee to investigate the issue of illegal mining of sand in the Budhbalanga river bed, which falls under the badsahi tehsil in Mayur bhanj district.
The east-zone bench at Kolkata had issued direction to constitute a committee on 15.03.2022. This came after an application was filed alleging illegal mining without the valid environmental clearance (EC) and consent to operate (CTO) and causing losses to the state exchequer.
A bench consisting of Judicial member Justice B Amit sthalekar (judicial member) and Saibal Dasgupta (expert member) said, “The matter requires consideration. Considering the allegations made in the original application, we deem it appropriate to constitute a committee comprising senior scientist, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Odisha, senior scientist of Odisha State Pollution Control Board, District Magistrate Mayurbhanj or his representative not below the rank of subdivisional magistrate of that area and district mining officer Mayurbanj.”