CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a committee to probe alleged illegal mining of sand by a lessee from Budhabalanga river at Dingiria under Badsahi Tahasil in Mayurbhanj district.

Detailed explanation-2: -The NGT directed the Chief Secretary, Odisha to initiate cases against illegal sand miners and also pass appropriate orders under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against the offenders/illegal miners.

Detailed explanation-3: -A large portion of the business is illegal, despite repeated claims by police and Mines and Geology Department officials that they have cracked down on such operations. A senior officer at the Mines and Geology Department admits that, ban or not, illegal sand mining takes place daily in rivers across the state.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Tribunal has a presence in five zones- North, Central, East, South and West. The Principal Bench is situated in the North Zone, headquartered in Delhi. The Central zone bench is situated in Bhopal, East zone in Kolkata, South zone in Chennai and West zone in Pune.

Detailed explanation-5: -Bihar had banned sand mining from July 1 to September 30 last year following a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order.