National Green Tribunal
News Item Titled "Gauri Ghat Se Khuleaam ... vs Unknown on 20 December, 2023
Item No. 15 Court No. 2
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 727/2023
In re : News item appearing in Hindustan dated 25.11.2023 titled
"गौरीघाटसे खुलेआमबालूकाअवै धखनन, माफियालगारहे करोडो़ोंकाचू ना"
Date of hearing: 20.12.2023
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
ORDER
1. This original application under Section 14 and 15 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as 'NGT Act, 2010') has been registered by exercising suo moto jurisdiction based on the newspaper report published in Daily Newspaper Hindustan stating that there is large scale rampant illegal mining of sand at Gauri Ghat, Adityapur, Gamharia to Chandil, PS Kapali, District Godda, State of Jharkhand. It is also mentioned that no action has been taken by concerned authorities and heavy machines are being used for illegal mining activities.
2. In our view, a substantial question relating to environment due to implementation of Scheduled Enactments under NGT Act, 2010 has arisen but before taking any further action in the matter, we find it appropriate to call for a factual report by constituting a joint Committee comprising:
i. District Magistrate, Godda
ii. State Pollution Control Board
iii. Integrated Regional Office, MoEF&CC, Ranchi 1
3. District Magistrate, Godda shall be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.
4. The above Committee shall visit the site, collect relevant information and submit a factual report within two months by e-mail at [email protected] preferably in the form of searchable PDF/ OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.
5. Since the matter pertains to State of Jharkhand which is within the jurisdiction of NGT Eastern Zone Bench, hence, let record be transmitted to Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata for further proceedings.
6. A copy of this order be forwarded to District Magistrate, Godda, Jharkhand State PCB and Integrated Regional Office, MoEF&CC, Ranchi by e-mail for compliance.
7. List this matter on 28.02.2024.
Sudhir Agarwal, JM Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM December 20, 2023 Original Application No. 727/2023 SN 2