Taking the help of virtual platforms to strengthen the public grievance mechanism, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has started digital environmental public hearing regarding auctioning of 23 sand ghats in the Nagpur division.

Due to lockdown in force in the wake of Covid-19, the public hearing is proposed to be conducted digitally, said a statement issued by MPCB.

As proposed by the District Mining Officer of Nagpur, District Collector/Magistrate or his representative not below the rank of Additional District Collector/Magistrate shall be the Chairman of the public hearing panel. Sub-Regional Officer of MPCB, Nagpur-I shall be convener of the panel and representative of Regional Officer of MPCB, Nagpur shall be the member, read the statement.

The administration of Nagpur was earned a revenue of Rs 11.55 crore by auctioning a total of 15 sand ghats in 2018-19. However, the highest bidders took possession of only 11 sand ghats.

The tehsil-wise names of sand ghats that were auctioned included Saoner - Ramdongari-A, Ramdongari-C, Gosewadi-A, Gosewadi-B, WakiA, Waki-B, Raiwadi; Kamptee - Waregaon-I, Waregaon-2, and Neri; Mouda - Mahalgaon-A, Mahalgaon-B, and Sirsoli; Kuhi - Chichghat, Parseoni - Waghoda. Of these, the highest bidders did not take possession of Gosewadi-B, WakiA,Waregaon-I, and Mahalgaon-B ghats.

This year, initially, 26 sand ghats were finalised for auction. However, later, the number was revised to 23. The initial list of 26 sand ghats proposed to be auctioned included Raiwadi-A, Waghoda, and Chichghat that were in the list of sand ghats auctioned in 2018-19.

Earlier, the board was carried out a public hearing for auctioning 34 sand ghats across Vidarbha on digital platforms. However, the move has not gone well with environmentalists. The environmentalists demanded cancellation of the digital hearing cited the deprive participation of all stakeholders like fishermen, local people as they do not have the competence of digital platforms.

Now, the MPCB has proposed environmental public hearing for sand ghats in Aurangabad, Osmanbad, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Yavatmal, Akola, Amravati, etc this month through virtual platforms. 

(Source: ET Government)