13 Stone Quarry Operators Fined Rs 144cr For Illegal Mining In Kolhapur’s Village, ET RealEstate
KOLHAPUR: Thirteen stone quarry operators in Kolhapur district have been fined a total of Rs 144 crore for carrying out illegal stone mining in the reserved forest area at Kasarwadi village along the Pune-Bengaluru national highway, causing huge damage to the environment.
The Kasarwadi gram panchayat had moved a petition before National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2017, citing environmental violations and illegal stone mining in the village.
The petition stated that the land, where the illegal mining activity was being carried out, was located in the jurisdiction of the gram panchayat. The petition added that the illegal mining activity was causing deforestation, air and noise pollution in the area.
The NGT, after hearing the matter, delivered its verdict in Dec 2021 in favour of the gram panchayat. The tribunal directed the authorities concerned to stop the mining activity and take action against the officials responsible for allowing the activity despite knowing that it was taking place in the reserved forest land.
The order stated that the mining activity in the reserved forest land required due permission from Centre. The NGT then formed a team comprising forest department and pollution control board officials, besides the Kolhapur collector.
On Aug 30, Hatkanangle tehsildar Sushil Belhekar issued notices to the stone quarry operators to pay nearly Rs 10.16 crore each in fine.
A senior revenue department official said, “The NGT had sought the environmental damage cost estimate of the illegal mining that had taken place. The quantum of the additional illegally mined mineral was pegged at 88,000 brass (one brass equals 100 cubic feet).
The total cost of the minor mineral mined, along with the damage caused to the environment, was estimated to be around Rs 144 crore. If the stone quarry operators fail to pay the environmental damage cost, the amount will be added as dues against their immovable properties.”
Village sarpanch Achyut Khot said, “The NGT order also stated that adequate measures should be taken by the forest department, such as fencing the reserve forest land, to stop the mining activity. The measures are, however, yet to be implemented.”
