Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a joint probe into alleged illegal mining of morrum and laterite stones in Odisha’s Khurda district, taking note of claims that large-scale extraction has been carried out without statutory clearances and in close proximity to an ecologically sensitive zone.The NGT’s east zone bench ordered the probe recently on a petition filed by Pratap Chandra Mohanty of Kendrapada district, who alleged that “mining mafia are lifting morrum and laterite stones illegally” from several locations, including Nial, Tangiapada, Aranga and Madhupur under Khurda tehsil.The petition further claimed that a review of records of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and Odisha State Police Control Board (OSPCB) showed no grant of environmental clearance or consent to establish/operate for such activities in Khurda and Jatni tehsils.Taking cognizance of the allegations, the bench comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel said: “Prima facie the averments made in the application raise substantial questions relating to environment arising out of implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule-I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.”Accordingly, the bench constituted a committee to verify the allegations and recommend remedial measures. The panel will include representatives from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change’s regional office in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board, and the Khurda district administration. The OSPCB has been designated as the nodal agency for coordination and compliance, with a report to be submitted within one month.Petitioner counsel Sankar Prasad Pani said the order issued on March 17 was uploaded on Tuesday. The NGT also issued notices to key state and district officials, including the chief secretary, district collector, mining and forest authorities, and police, seeking their responses within a month. The matter is slated for further hearing on April 22, 2026.Highlighting environmental damage, the petitioner stated that the mining sites are adjacent to the Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary, and that “domestic and wild animal got trapped in the pits created due to mining.” He added that “the elephant movement is also disturbed as this used to be the pathway,” while natural drainage has been blocked due to deep excavation pits, some exceeding 50 ft.The plea also alleged illegal tree felling, stating that several mature cashew and acacia trees were uprooted without prior permission from forest authorities. The petitioner further pointed to alleged inaction despite multiple state guidelines and enforcement mechanisms aimed at curbing illegal mining.
