National Green Tribunal bench forms panel to probe illegal sand mining in Balasore

Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) east zone bench has set up a joint committee to probe into allegations of illegal sand mining on the Subarnarekha river stretch near Mohammad Nagar Patna and Sekhsarai villages under Odisha’s Jaleswar tehsil in Balasore district.The NGT passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman and three other residents of Balasore district on May 19. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy made submissions on behalf of petitioners through video conference. The web copy of the order was released online on May 22.The bench, comprising judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Ishwar Singh, said: “We deem it just and proper to call a fact finding report” as a “substantial issue relating to the environment,” has been raised.Accordingly, to ascertain the facts on the ground, the NGT formed a joint committee comprising representatives of Balasore district collector, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), and Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB). The committee has been instructed to inspect the site and submit a factual and action-taken report within four weeks. The OSPCB will act as the nodal agency for coordination and logistical support. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Aug 10, 2026.According to the petition, three private parties have allegedly been extracting sand illegally from the riverbed without obtaining mandatory environmental clearance, consent to establish, consent to operate or mining lease approvals from competent authorities.The petitioners further alleged that despite repeated complaints by local villagers to the authorities, no stringent action had been taken against the alleged “sand mafia”. The villagers expressed apprehension that the unregulated mining activity could weaken nearby embankments, trigger environmental degradation and create serious inconvenience for local residents. The petition also claimed that the state govt was suffering substantial revenue losses due to illegal extraction of minor minerals.Taking it on record, the tribunal issued notices to several authorities, including the chief secretary of the Odisha govt, district collector and superintendent of police of Balasore, tehsildar of Jaleswar, mining officer of Balasore, directorate of minor minerals, member-secretary OSPCB, SEIAA and the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). Advocates Rashhmi Singhee and Dipanjan Ghosh appeared and accepted notices on behalf of SEIAA and OSPCB, respectively. Notice was also issued to the three private parties. The respondents have been directed to file their replies within six weeks.