Hyderabad, July 11 -- An 18-year-long legal battle waged by a woman farmer against mining activity near the Outer Ring Road (ORR) has culminated in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordering action against pollution that caused crop losses worth Rs 2.8 lakh.

On July 9, the NGT directed authorities to tighten supervision of quarries, stone crushers and hot mix plants operating in Rangareddy and Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri districts.

Ruling on a petition filed by Pisati Indira Reddy, the tribunal held that no mining or industrial unit could operate without valid clearances, even if it was located within a designated mining zone. It further ruled that quarry operators whose applications were pending under the "violation category" could not begin o...