The National Green Tribunal (eastern zone bench) has constituted a committee comprising the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri and a senior scientist of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) to look into an allegation that a stone crushing unit is operating without following proper norms in Sevoke near Siliguri.

Subhas Datta, 74, an activist from Howrah, had approached the tribunal in May, stating that a stone crushing unit set up almost on the river bed of the Teesta at Sevoke, about 27km from Siliguri, was violating environmental norms set by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Datta said: “The stone crushing unit has been set up almost on the river bed of the Teesta, which is a major river of north Bengal and falls within the eco-sensitive zone of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.”

The irregularities flagged off by Datta are as follows:

• The distance criteria have been flouted because the crushing unit is on the river bed and not at a distance of 200 meters from the river. The units are very close to the river bridge and NH10
• The said unit has practically blocked the naturalflow of another river named the Nandi that finally flows into Teesta
• Details of the unit have not been displayed at the entrance of the unit
• Water sprinklers are not used causing huge dust pollution in vast areas
• There are no metallic roads inside (the crushing unit)
• Vehicles transporting the materials are not covered
• No plantation of two to three rows of tall trees has been made
• Wind breaking wall with appropriate height has not been constructed
• There is no CCTV camera at the entrance of the unit

Datta said he had visited the area on May 7 and 11. The activist has also filed photographs to substantiate his allegations.

Justice B. Amit Sthalekar, a judicial member, and Dr Arun Kumar Verma, an expert member of the tribunal, while hearing the case on Tuesday, decided to constitute a committee to look into the allegations.

The committee is tocomprise the DMs of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri or theirrepresentative officersnot below the rank of additional district magistrates along with a senior scientist of WBPCB.

“The committee shall visit the site and submit its report with regard to the allegations made in the original application within three weeks. West Bengal Pollution Control Board shall be the nodal body for all logistic purposes and shall file the fact finding report on affidavit,” the order reads.

The tribunal has also stated that in case of violations, the committee shall recommend remedial measures,if any.