KOLKATA | sept 15, 2015: The National Green Tribunal's Kolkata bench headed by Justice Pratap Kumar Roy has asked for closure of all stone-mining activities in Bengal's Birbhum and Jharkhand's Pakur.

The order given last week stated that stone mining was eroding away agricultural land in the two districts and for that the respective district magistrates have been asked to act promptly. In Birbhum alone, there are about 550 mines.

The order was given following a complaint by legal activist Joydeep Mukherjee of All India Legal Aid Forum who had stated that minors were involved in illegal mining and tribal land was being taken away by mafias. Moreover, he had complained about air and sound pollution too. According to him, the mine owners are using detonators without the approval of the defence ministry triggering security hazard.

Mukherjee has also stated that excessive mining activities in the region are triggering silicosis disease among the labourers. Justice Roy in his order stated that the mining needs to be stopped immediately since the environmental degradation is on a rise. He asked the DMs of Birbhum and Pakur to submit the action taken report within four weeks.

Earlier, Justice Roy had closed down operation of illegal stone crushers in Birbhum.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)