Close on the heels of recent notification of minor mineral and sand mining policy by Environment Ministry, the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday summoned officials of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Governments for their failure to curb illegal sand mining on the floodplains of river Yamuna that had been earlier banned by the green panel.
It also asked Environment Ministry to inform it about the quantum of illegal mining being carried out and its impact on ecology and environment of the river bed. The matter has been listed for next hearing on February 5.
The green bench headed by its chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed officials, including head of the Irrigation Department, Geology and Mining, member secretary of pollution control board and police, to appear before it on February 5.
The green panel queried on whether temporary or privately built bridges have come up after the one erected in Greater Noida but before the construction of New Yamuna bridge in Mathura over Yamuna. In case of an affirmative answer the bench sought to know with whose permission was it done, who built it and the reason for the same.
It further questioned whether any JCB (heavy equipment as cranes) was seized by the State of Uttar Pradesh or Haryana or by any other authority. The panel also questioned the Environment Ministry on the names and particulars of parties who have indulged in illegal mining, building of units, using of JCBs and heavy machinery for mining amongst other details. The NGT issued notices to four contactors including De Krish Builders Private ltd, NCR Realteck Private ltd, Ajay Pal Singh and Naveen Singh as to why action be not taken against them.
The NGT had in its hearing on November last had prohibited sand mining either legal or illegal on the banks of River Yamuna. It had also constituted a committee of senior officers of both states to file their status report on mining.
The green panel was hearing a plea alleging that some private firms were engaged in the activity and a temporary bridge was made on the river obstructing its natural flow.
The Environment Ministry has also recently notified clear cut directives and mechanized mode of monitoring to check the illegal mining of sand and other minor minerals.