The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday sought responses of the Centre and Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana on a plea alleging that sand was being illegally mined on land belonging to IAF in Faridabad and being sold in Noida and Gautam Buddh Nagar districts of UP.
The bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority of UP, the two State Governments and their concerned authorities besides the Indian Air Force to this effect. Their response has been sought by October 28.
The order came in wake of a petition filed by Noida lok Manch, an NGO, alleging that illegal sand mining is going on at Tilpat air bombing and firing range, in Faridabad district of Haryana, which is owned by IAF. However, despite repeated complaints by the villagers, the concerned authorities have not taken any action so far.
The said land has an area of over 4,600 acres, situated on either side of the river Yamuna, which had not been used since the last 25 to 30 years. The petition contended that it is affecting the agricultural activities of the villagers living in the vicinity. Unabated sand mining in the region is also lowering its water table. It can also change the flow in river if the mining is allowed to continue, the petition said.
It further alleged, “Since the authorities failed — intentionally or otherwise — to take legal action against the activity, they have abetted and wilfully connived in allowing illegal sand mining in complete violation of environmental and other applicable laws”.
The NGO has called for appropriate legal action against the “sand mafia” besides implementing strict measures to ensure that such illegal sand mining is not allowed to continue in the region.