Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is in a quandary over ascertaining the veracity of allegations of "illegal and unlawful extraction of minor minerals" from areas in Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district.

About two months ago, the NGT's east zone bench in Calcutta had ordered an administrative inquiry into it, asking the Dhenkanal collector to inspect the areas and submit a report on October 26. But, the report has not been submitted till date.

The tribunal had issued the probe order on September 22 after receiving a petition alleging "indiscriminate and illegal mining" of soil/morrum/earth for construction of Angul-Duburi-Sukinda broad gauge line without ensuring environmental safeguards.

Sasee Bhoosan Patnaik, 54, a resident of Keonjhargada, filed the petition alleging that life and livelihood of the people living along the sides of the pits from where the minor minerals have been removed is under threat.

When the matter came up on October 22, nobody appeared on behalf of the state government, not even the Dhenkanal collector. And when the matter was taken up on November 21, additional collector of Dhenkanal Jyoti Ranjan Pradhan appeared in person and sought further time to submit the report.

"Taking note of it, Justice S.P. Wangdi (judicial member) issued fresh orders to the district collector of Dhenkanal to carry out inspections of the area in question and verify the correctness of the allegations and submit a report on December 5," petitioner counsel Sankar Prasad Pani said.

"In his order, Justice Wangdi further made it clear that on the next date, the matter pertaining to interim order (stay on construction) shall be considered," Pani said.

Rail Vikash Nigam Limited is constructing the Angul-Duburi-Sukinda rail link that runs from Baghuapal (Jajpur district) to Budhapani (Angul district). Huge quantity of soil/morrum/earth is required for formation of its earth bed along the 97-km rail stretch. The construction of the earth bed of the railway line is making rapid progress.

The tribunal also expected the RVNL, which had entrusted the work to two contractors, to show cause on December 5 on why construction of Angul-Duburi-Sukinda broad gauge rail line should not be stopped. The tribunal also expected a report from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board on the matter.