The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter of large scale illegal extraction of sand in Subarnarekha River.
The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated 24.12.2023.
The news item discloses that in the Subarnarekha River at Sidhgora Police Station area, large scale illegal extraction of sand is in progress.
It further discloses that the said extraction is taking place near Baridih district school mainly at night. The sand extractors transport illegally extracted sand through tractors and they extract the sand from deep water of the river using boats and sell it illegally at the rate ranging from Rs. 3500 to 4000 and this activity is going in collusion with the police officers.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of environmental norms.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava , Dr. A Senthil Vel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary.
ii. Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, East Singhbhum Jamshedpur.
Since the matter relates to the Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata , therefore , the Bench transferred the matter to the Eastern Zonal Bench for appropriate further action. Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Eastern Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 01.05.2024.