National Green Tribunal (NGT)Stays Sand Mining Monday Aug 5,2013

 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday Aug 5,2013 ordered a nationwide stay on sand mining on river beds without Environment Ministry clearance

The interim order came on a petition filed by the NGT Bar Association as a reaction to the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who had been overseeing a drive against illegal sand mining in Gautam Budh Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh.

At the same time, the Ministry has decided to approach the Supreme Court to seek clarification on the process for according environmental clearances for minor mineral mining projects occupying less than five hectares, as well as send an inspection team to U.P. to look into illegal sand mining there

Note
On February 27, 2013, the court ordered mandatory environmental clearance from the Environment and Forests Ministry for excavation of all minor minerals. It said: “Sand mining on either side of the rivers, upstream and in-stream, is one of the causes for environmental degradation and also a threat to biodiversity. Over the years, India’s rivers and riparian ecology have been badly affected by the alarming rate of unrestricted sand mining … .”