National Green Tribunal to probe mining pollution

Cuttack: The East Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a joint committee to investigate allegations of environmental pollution and groundwater contamination caused by chromite mining operations in Odisha’s Jajpur district.The bench, comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh, directed the panel to inspect Sukarangi and South Kaliapani chromite mines under Sukinda tehsil and verify allegations of illegal and unscientific dumping of mining overburden by Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).The order released online on Monday was passed on a petition filed by Kailash Chandra Nayak, who alleged that untreated run-off water from the mines was being discharged into the Damsala nala, contaminating surface and groundwater with hexavalent chromium, a carcinogenic substance linked to serious health risks.Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padh made submissions on the petitioner’s behalf.The tribunal observed that the allegations raised “substantial questions relating to environment” under provisions of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, and warranted further examination. The committee was asked to meet within two weeks, undertake field visits, examine the grievances raised in the petition, and recommend remedial measures if violations are found.

The panel has been directed to associate the petitioner and representatives of the project proponent during the inquiry.The Jajpur DM will function as the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.The joint committee has been directed to submit its report within one month from receipt of the order. The matter has been posted for further hearing on Aug 19, 2026.The NGT also directed its registry to issue notices to the Odisha chief secretary, divisional forest officer of Cuttack, deputy director of mines, Jajpur, regional director of the Central Ground Water Board, Bhubaneswar, and Odisha Mining Corporation.During the hearing, advocate Papiya Banerjee Bihani accepted notice on behalf of the OSPCB, advocate Surender Kumar and advocate Ashok Prasad accepted notice on behalf of the CPCB director-general of mines safety, respectively. The respondents have been granted two months to file their replies.