PANJIM: In a major embarrassment to the State and especially the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG), the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to forfeit the performance guarantee of DMG.
The axe has fallen on the DMG as it failed to comply with the directions of the NGT to install CCTV cameras at illegal sand mining sites in ‘Zuvom de Tuyem’ Island in Chapora River situated near Camurlim in Bardez.
NGT has directed the CPCB to forfeit Rs 20 lakh performance guarantee deposited earlier and has directed the DMG to submit yet another performance guarantee of Rs 20 lakh before the end of this month.
The Bench consisting of Justices SP Wangdi and K Ramakrishnan, and Dr Nagin Nanda as Expert Members observed that the illegal sand mining had admittedly been taking place as a consequence of which appropriate orders had been issued for curbing it.
“One of the measures which has been suggested and also accepted by the Tribunal was installation of CCTV cameras at identified locations which had also been recommended by a Joint Committee in its inspection report. We may refer to order dated February 26, 2019, whereby sequence of events in brief has been set out leading to the decision to install CCTV cameras. However, the State Respondent had been delaying compliance of this part of the order on some pretext or the other, the last being the purported delay in tendering of the work,” the Bench stated.
The NGT further observed “In the order dated February 26, 2019, we had reiterated that the order passed earlier for installing the CCTV cameras should be complied with. Earlier on November 1, 2017, the State had undertaken to complete the process within two months but on February 26, 2019 it was found that the work had still not been done. As a consequence, the State had been directed to complete the entire work within two months against which Performance Guarantee of Rs 20 lakh was directed to be deposited with the CPCB within 10 days making it clear that if the State fails to adhere to timeline, it would be forfeited.”
The counsel for DMG once again submitted before the NGT that the entire tendering process and the work of installing the CCTV cameras would be completed within two months from the date.
In sharp criticism the NGT stated “We find this to be another ruse to delay the process. DMG having failed to comply with the directions contained in the order dated February 26, 2019, the Performance Guarantee of Rs 20 lakh shall stand forfeited. While ordering so, we direct the DMG to complete the entire work within two months as stated by the learned counsel for the Respondent subject to deposit of further Performance Guarantee of Rs 20 lakh with CPCB within 10 days from hence which naturally shall be forfeited if the timeline prescribed herein is not adhered to.”
