National Green Tribunal Initiates Inquiry into Illegal Mining in Yamuna River

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated a swift investigation into claims of unlawful sand mining along the Yamuna riverbed in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh. This directive emerged following a petition filed by Dr. Amit Kumar, who contended that extensive mining activities are taking place in the villages of Nai Nangla and Manglaura without securing the essential environmental clearance and approvals.

In his plea, Dr. Kumar stated that the concerned project proponent has not been granted Environmental Clearance (EC) or consent to establish and operate (CTE/CTO). Despite the lack of these crucial permissions, mining operations have already commenced. He further asserted that heavy machinery, including Poclain machines, is being deployed on the riverbed for extraction purposes. Dr. Kumar also claimed that he had lodged complaints with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, local authorities, and the police. However, he alleged that no significant action has been taken to address the situation.

Dr. Kumar highlighted the existence of a police check post near the mining site, suggesting that the authorities were aware of the purported illegal activities. Acknowledging the gravity of these allegations, the NGT established a joint committee that comprises representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) regional office based in Lucknow, and the District Magistrate of Shamli, designated as the nodal authority for this inquiry.

The tribunal has instructed the committee to conduct an on-site visit promptly to assess the scale of the illegal mining, verify the status of environmental permissions, evaluate any potential environmental damage, and propose both remedial and punitive measures. In response to the pressing nature of the situation, the NGT has requested that this comprehensive evaluation be completed within a three-week timeframe, followed by an immediate submission of a status report.

Furthermore, the tribunal explicitly commanded the relevant authorities to ensure that illegal mining activities are halted during this inquiry. Notices have been issued to the involved parties, some of whom have acknowledged receipt and requested additional time to respond to the tribunal’s inquiries. The subsequent hearing on the matter has been scheduled for July 3.

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