The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday warned the Ministry of Environment and Forests of adverse orders following its failure to make a representation before it, related to an issue on alleged illegal mining, on land belonging to IAF in Faridabad and its sale in Noida and Gautam Buddh Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar noted that despite notice being served by NGT on the matter, none had appeared before it from the MoEF.
The Bench had on September 26 issued notices to MoEF and also State Environment Impact Assessment Authority of UP, the two State Governments (Haryana and UP) and their authorities concerned as well as the Indian Air Force, seeking their responses by Monday.
The petition alleged that 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.”