LI Network
Published on: October 23, 2023 at 12:52 IST
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a significant step in addressing the issue of alleged illegal bauxite mining in Lohardaga, Jharkhand, by establishing a panel and requesting a comprehensive report on the matter.
This move comes in response to concerns raised following a media report highlighting illicit bauxite mining activities in the region.
Lohardaga, often referred to as the ‘Bauxite Town’ of the country, has been at the center of this controversy. The NGT, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, took note of the news report detailing the “large-scale, rampant illegal mining of bauxite,” which involved the surreptitious transportation of the mineral in trucks bearing fraudulent number plates.
The NGT bench, which includes judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, recognized that this issue is directly related to the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
In response, the tribunal issued a crucial order, stating, “The news item reveals that a substantial issue relating to compliance of environmental laws is involved.”
To address this pressing concern, the NGT has decided to form a joint committee, which will consist of representatives from various key authorities. This committee will include members from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Member Secretary of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, and the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) responsible for the region.
The DFO will play a pivotal role as the nodal agency responsible for coordination and ensuring compliance with the directives of the committee.
The primary task of this joint committee is to thoroughly investigate the issue at hand and provide a comprehensive report that outlines the facts and actions taken to address the alleged illegal bauxite mining activities. This report will subsequently be submitted before the Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, for further consideration.
The NGT’s decision to form this committee underscores its commitment to upholding environmental laws and safeguarding natural resources from illicit exploitation, particularly in areas as significant as Lohardaga, which is renowned as a hub for bauxite mining.
The upcoming report is expected to shed light on the extent of the problem and the measures taken to rectify it, reaffirming the importance of environmental protection in the region.