Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal sand mining, Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal, 10/08/2021

Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Debasish Das Vs West Bengal Pollution Control Board & Others dated 10/08/2021.

The matter related to illegal sand mining in Paschim Bardhaman.

The NGT, June 30, 2021 had directed the District Magistrate, Paschim Bardhaman to file affidavit providing information with regard to the extent of illegal sand mining and giving details of mining area, duration of mining, quantity, name of the persons carrying out the mining activity and the loss of revenue due to illegal sand mining.

The NGT, August 10, 2021 has directed the committee to compute the environmental compensation to the damage caused to the environment and the restitution of the environment. The committee would also suggest remedial measures for mitigating the environmental damage caused on account of illegal sand mining and submit its report within four weeks.

Further, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), West Bengal to file an affidavit within the same period of time explaining as to how the EC was granted to M/s India Digital Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. when the DSR itself was not in existence for the district of Paschim Bardhaman - a violation of the Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines, 2016.