NGT begins probe into illegal mining in Hazaribag, Koderma
RANCHI: I had filed the petition on August 28, 2015, with the NGT, seeking an enquiry into the ongoing illegal mining in Jharkhand’s two districts. The illegal crusher and stone quarry units are causing health hazards and adversely impacting animals in the 2 wildlife sanctuaries. SATYA PRAKASH, advocate-cum-activist
A six-member experts’ team constituted by National Green Tribunal (NGT) arrived in Jharkhand on Monday and began probe into illegal mining of minor minerals in Hazaribag and Koderma districts.
Scientist of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Dr Rita Saha led team, comprises of scientists from union ministry of environment forest and climate change, Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) and Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad.
JSPCB officials said the team would stay here for four days. The board will be providing all required logistics and protection to them.
JSPCB member secretary Rajiv Lochan Bakshi said that the team held its initial discussion with board members in Ranchi on issue of illegal mining in the two districts.
“They also collected data related to mining in the area such as how many crusher units have environment clearance and number of units having consent to establish and consent to operate,” he said, adding, the team left for Hazaribag in the evening for field verification.
NGT on January 29 constituted the committee and ordered to enquire about the illegal mining in two Jharkhand districts, following the petition filed by an advocate-cum-activist Satya Prakash in this regard.
The petitioner had alleged that illegal mining was rampant in 33 villages, most of them surrounding the wildlife sanctuaries in two districts,which was adversely affecting the environment, health, agriculture, water and ecological balance of the area.
“I had filed the petition in this regard on August 28, 2015, with the NGT seeking an enquiry into the ongoing illegal mining in Jharkhand’s two districts. Even as the illegal crusher and stone quarry units are causing several health hazards in the respective villages, it is also adversely impacting the animals in the two wildlife sanctuaries,” Prakash said.
He added that several stone quarry units have cropped up in the eco-sensitive zone areas of the sanctuaries.
He said mountains were vanishing fast due to unchecked stone quarry units.
Meanwhile, the Hazaribag administration carried out a massive crackdown against illegal stone quarry units in Dumrain, Tilra and other villages 10 days back and demolished 100 such units and seized over 30 heavy vehicles carrying stones.
Hazaribag divisional forest officer (wildlife) Dilip Yadav said, “All illegal crusher units at distance of 250 meters of forest area have been demolished. Illegal transport of stone chips has been also restricted in Hazaribag.”