Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to multiple Odisha govt authorities over alleged illegal laterite stone extraction and tree felling at Ramachandrapur in Khurda district, directing them to file their replies within four weeks.The notice by the NGT East Zone Bench was issued on March 11 — and uploaded on March 14 — while hearing a petition filed by one Madhusudan Palai and two other residents of Khurda district, who alleged that illegal quarrying activities began at Ramachandrapur Laterite Stone Quarry-2 in Jan without obtaining mandatory statutory clearances.“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,” the bench, comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel observed, while taking note of the submissions made by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy on behalf of the petitioners, besides the material on record.Accordingly, the tribunal issued notices to the chief secretary of Odisha, Khurda collector and district magistrate, director of mines and geology, tehsildar of Tangi, deputy director of mines (Khurda circle), member secretary of Odisha State Pollution Control Board, member secretary of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and the superintendent of police, Khurda.The matter has been posted for next hearing on April 16.According to the petition, the deputy director of mines, Khurda circle, had issued an advertisement on Sept 12, 2025, for auction of eight quarries, including Ramachandrapur Laterite Stone Quarry-1 and 2. The successful bidder of quarry-2 allegedly started clearing the land and felling trees at the site from Jan 11, 2026, without securing environmental clearance, consent to establish, consent to operate, lease agreement or transit permits.Seeking intervention, the petitioners urged the tribunal to constitute a committee to assess environmental damage, quantify the volume of morrum and laterite stone allegedly extracted illegally and determine the market value, restoration cost and environmental compensation to be recovered from the private respondents.They also sought directions to fix the responsibility of govt officials for alleged inaction and prosecute those involved in illegal mining. The plea further requested the tribunal to direct authorities to restore the affected land and undertake plantation.
