Costs of environmental damage due to illegal mining in Gir-Somnath, Junagadh sought

CV News/ Monday, May 06, 2019
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Gujarat State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to assess Net Present Value (NPV) of limestone following illegal mining in Gir-Somnath and Junagadh districts of Gujarat.
In its order dated May 1, it also asked the three agencies to calculate the cost of damage to environment and pristine ecology, cost of mitigation and restitution of the environment, and deterrent environmental compensation. NGT asked GPCB to submit detailed of actions taken before by July 24, 2019.
The order follows an application filed by Sreeja Chakraborty regarding illegal limestone mining in Gir-Somnath and Junagad districts of Gujarat. The plea said, limestone mining is been carried out without any prior Environmental Clearance from SEIAA. As many as 20 miners were identified by the applicant.