Judgment of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal operation of saw mills, village Hapania, Nadia, West Bengal, 31/05/2022
Judgment of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Shyamal Kanti Baidya Vs Ram Prasad Mondal & Others regarding running of a saw mill illegally on agricultural land despite having been served with a closure notice from the Range Officer, Department of Forest, Ranaghat Range, Nadia, West Bengal. It is also alleged that people running the mill are cutting down trees leading to environmental degradation and decline in biodiversity.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board filed its affidavit, March 31, 2022 on the site inspection carried out, March 25, 2022. The report said that on demand the unit could not show the CTE and CTO, obtained from the West Bengal Pollution Control Board.
The NGT directed West Bengal Pollution Control Board to compute penalty/ environmental compensation after due consultation and assistance of the Divisional Forest Office, Nadia, Murshidabad Division, and, thereafter, proceed against the saw mills to recover the same in accordance with law. An affidavit of compliance as well as action taken report should be filed by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board on affidavit by August 5, 2022.