Joint panel to probe ‘illegal’ laterite mining in Sarugudu panchayat
The Hindu
NGT seeks report, including ATR, before August 31
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the constitution of a joint committee to inquire into the alleged illegal mining of laterite at Bhamidikaloddi village in Sarugudu panchayat of Nathavaram mandal in Visakhapatnam district. The order was issued on July 26, after an application by the tribal people seeking it was reviewed and admitted by Justice Ramakrishnan and K. Satyagopal, an expert member. As per the order, the committee will comprise a senior officer from the MoEF&CC, the District Collector, the District Forest Officer, a senior officer from the Mines and Geology Department of A.P., and a senior officer from the AP Pollution Control Board.A crowd comprising farmers, researchers, professors, students, and horticulture enthusiasts thronged the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru, on Friday for the inaugural ceremony of the Triphal Diversity Show which showcased 300 mango, 100 jackfruit, and 100 banana genotypes in collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli.
The State government on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Director-General of Police, Manish Kharbikar of the Economic Offences division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the alleged multi-crore scam in the government-run Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.