Guwahati, May 25 -- In a stern rebuke, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, has sharply criticized the Directorate of Geology & Mining, Assam, for its persistent failure to file a response in a case concerning alleged illegal sand mining in the Kaldiya River in Bajali district. The tribunal, on May 21, 2025, condemned the Directorate's conduct as "seriously condemnable" and imposed a cost of Rs. 5,000 for the delay.

The ongoing legal battle, initiated by Arup Jyoti Das & others through an Original Application (No. 196/2024/EZ), stems from allegations of widespread environmental violations, including illegal sand mining within 200 meters of a concrete bridge using JCB excavators, in violation of the Sand Mining ...