The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday came down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh Government and local authorities of Gautam Buddh Nagar district on the issue of illegal sand mining in Yamuna River saying it was “shocked” by its behaviour of arresting petty truck drivers rather than owners of the vehicles. “Can’t the State be fair everIJ” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked.
“You have not touched a single person who owns the trucks, dumpers or heavy excavating machinery... It shocks us that you have picked up the drivers. Can’t they be fair,” the bench said, in relation to the names of 18 people, allegedly carrying out illegal sand mining in Gautam Buddh Nagar district that the State Government had submitted.
The bench told the State counsel that the listed 18 people were present in the Tribunal on the last date of hearing, September 26, but it had not been informed about the same by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Gautam Buddh Nagar and as a result, bailable warrants were issued against them. “These poor people were sitting outside (the courtroom). They came to my chamber afterwards, fearing they would be arrested. Your (UP) behaviour is very unfortunate,” Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The Tribunal directed SSP and other senior officials of the district to appear before it on the next date of hearing.The bench also modified its order of September 26 when it had sought the presence of 11 people who were arrested in connection with the theft of 80 per cent sand, from over two lakh cubic metres, which was seized by the district mining department, by issuing production warrants against them as they are currently in jail.