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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC) for delaying providing satellite data necessary for an investigation into alleged illegal mining activities until after the elections.
The court's remarks came during a hearing concerning accusations of illegal mining in metal quarry-1, located in Nihalprasad village, Gondia tehsil, Dhenkanal district.
ORSAC, in a letter submitted to the court on April 22, 2024, cited the unavailability of satellite data until after the conclusion of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as the reason for the delay. However, the NGT questioned the necessity of seeking permission from the Election Commission to conduct a survey related to a criminal investigation.
The NGT bench, led by Justice B Amit Sthalekar, highlighted that the notices regarding the case were issued on October 22, 2023, when there were no elections or MCC in place. Therefore, the court found it perplexing that ORSAC could not survey without the Election Commission's sanction.
Consequently, the NGT directed the Collector and District Magistrate of Dhenkanal to ensure that ORSAC submits the required affidavit and the investigation report within four weeks. Failure to comply with this directive may result in the invocation of Section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, by the tribunal.
The NGT's order underscores the urgency of resolving the allegations of illegal mining promptly. The court emphasized the need for timely cooperation from all relevant authorities, including ORSAC, to facilitate a thorough investigation into the matter.
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