Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a joint investigation into allegations of illegal brick kiln operations and unauthorized brick clay mining in Balasore district, directing a multi-agency panel to verify the charges and recommend corrective measures. The direction came from the NGT’s east zone bench while hearing a petition filed by Rajanikanta Jena, a resident of Ambakuduchi under Basta tehsil.In the petition, Jena alleged that illegal extraction of brick clay was being carried out for the kiln and that its operations were causing environmental pollution and adversely affecting the health and daily lives of local residents. He sought demolition of the kiln, seizure of baked bricks stored at the site, restoration of the affected land, environmental compensation against the operators and action against officials allegedly responsible for failing to act on public complaints.After hearing the petitioner’s counsels, Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, and examining the material on record, the NGT bench, comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh on May 26 observed that the allegations raised substantial questions relating to environmental protection and implementation of laws covered under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The NGT order was released online on Monday.To ascertain the facts, the bench constituted a joint committee comprising representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the district magistrate, Balasore. The panel has been directed to meet within two weeks, conduct a field inspection, interact with the petitioner and the project proponents, verify the allegations and suggest suitable remedial measures.The tribunal designated the district magistrate, Balasore, as the nodal agency for coordinating the inquiry and ensuring compliance with its directions. The committee has been asked to submit its report within one month.The NGT also issued notices to the chief secretary, Balasore collector, Basta tehsildar, Balasore mining officer and two private parties named in the petition. They have been given six weeks to file their responses. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 23.According to the petition, a brick kiln was being operated in Ambakuduchi without mandatory environmental approvals and pollution control clearances.As per the petition, the unit lacked environmental clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Odisha, as well as Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the OSPCB.
According to the petition, a brick kiln was being operated in Ambakuduchi without mandatory environmental approvals
