The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday directed the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Uttar Pradesh, and the District Magistrate, Ghaziabad, to launch an investigation into allegations of illegal sand mining in the Yamuna riverbed area at Panchayara village of Loni tehsil in Ghaziabad district by a private UP-based company.
The tribunal has asked the authorities to examine the allegations and report on whether the environmental clearance granted to the company should be withdrawn and if its mining lease should be cancelled. The allegations include mining in the main river stream, night-time mining, use of heavy machinery and violations of environmental laws and clearance conditions.
The Bench of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Judicial Member, Justice A Senthil Vel, Expert Member, and Justice Afroz Ahmad, Expert Member, observed that photographs, video recordings, complaints and other material placed on record disclosed repeated allegations of violations of environmental norms and mining conditions by the firm.
The tribunal noted that an appropriate decision would be made after considering the arguments of all parties concerned in accordance with law. It also stated that a penalty of Rs 5 lakh had already been imposed upon the company under the Uttar Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 2021, and the amount had been deposited.
The NGT further directed that if mining operations were permitted in the future, the project proponent must strictly comply with all environmental clearance conditions, including the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, and the Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020. Further, it directed that only GPS-enabled vehicles shall be used for transportation of mined material and weekly monitoring reports, along with CCTV footage, shall be submitted to the authorities concerned.
The District Magistrate, Commissioner of Police and District Mining Officer have been directed to ensure strict monitoring, including surprise inspections, to prevent illegal mining activities. The matter is next listed for hearing on July 2.
