VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Nov 7: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is learnt to have issued a notice to the member secretary of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) Yatindra Kumar Das in the illegal stone mining case.
Apparently, he is the first senior official of the JSPCB who has been summoned by the ED. It is believed that he would be questioned in connection with action against 69 stone crusher units in the Sahibganj district in the name of not adhering to pollution norms. The consent to operate (CTO) of these units was withdrawn and later, the JSPCB restored the CTO of 23 stone crusher units.
Besides, there are allegations that Pankaj Mishra pressurized the JSPCB to grant consent for mining-related activities to only such persons who are close to Pankaj Mishra and the syndicate. The applications of many genuine applicants were rejected or kept pending those who are not in the good book of Pankaj Mishra.
It is widely alleged that the JSPCB’s action was aimed to cater to the interest of the mining lobby of the Santhal Pargana allegedly controlled by Pankaj Mishra who is the MLA representative of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The ED arrested Pankaj Mishra and a prosecution complaint has been filed against him.
Notably, this matter was raised during the budget session of the assembly by Independent MLA Saryu Roy. Defending the move, the Hemant Soren government had said that it was done in the wake of the order of the National Green Tribunal. The JSPCB revoked the CTO of 69 stone crusher units on the ground of non-compliance with pollution rules.
The most interesting thing is the alacrity with which the JSPCB carried out technical inspections of the stone crusher units within a record five days. Many mining operators expressed surprise whether it was physically possible for the JSPCB assessment team to visit all the sites within five days. In Sahibganj there are over 200 stone crusher and stone mining sites spreading over the tough terrain of the district.
“Whereas the team of JSPCB had visited and assessed the Mines and Crushers of Sahibganj between 02/11/2020 to 07/11/2020 and pursuant upon that a show-cause notice was issued to your unit at the site by the Regional Officer, Regional Office, Dumka to appear in person at the Board’s Headquarter on 24/1112020,” the operative parts of the cancellation order read. The order was issued by the member secretary of the JSPCB Yatindra Kumar Das in August 2021.
Notably, this order was issued by Yatindra Kumar Das. It is alleged that to show the entire operation looks genuine the JSPCB revoked the CTO of two mining units of Maa Amba Stone Works of Pavitra Kumar Yadav, Shakti Stone Works of Shankar Kumar, and some others who are said to be close to Pankaj Kumar Mishra. However, Yatindra Kumar Das had said that the inspection had not taken place during his regime. He joined in July last year and he only issued the order for revocation of CTO based on the available report.
