Bhubaneswar, June 4 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed authorities to initiate action in connection with the alleged illegal extraction of sand from the Rushikulya River using heavy machinery in Odisha's Ganjam district. The direction was issued during a hearing conducted by the NGT's Eastern Zone Bench on May 26.

The case pertains to a sand bed located at the Bhimpur area under Purushottampur Tehsil in Ganjam district. According to reports, a mining lease had been granted for sand extraction from an area measuring 10.425 acres. However, allegations were made that the leaseholder was using heavy equipment such as excavators for sand mining, which is prohibited under the applicable regulations.

It was further alleged that ...