The National Green Tribunal (NGT)
has directed the District Magistrates of Prayagraj and Kaushambi districts in Uttar Pradesh to take action against alleged illegal mining in the riverbed of Yamuna. Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (Chairperson), Justice Sudhir Agarwal (Judicial Member), and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (Expert Member) stated that appropriate action must be taken as per law in the light of earlier directions of the Tribunal.
During a hearing, the NGT addressed a complaint about illegal sand mining occurring in the riverbed and stream of Yamuna in Prayagraj and Kaushambi districts of Uttar Pradesh. The complaint alleged that heavy machinery and over 1,000 boats are being used for mining, and more than 400-500 trucks are transporting sand daily, despite permission being granted for only 125 trucks.
The NGT directed the District Magistrates of Prayagraj and Kaushambi to take necessary action in accordance with the law to stop illegal mining in the Yamuna riverbed. Despite the previous orders of the Tribunal in Atul Singh Chauhan vs. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other relevant parties to halt illegal mining in the Yamuna riverbed, violations are still ongoing, prompting the NGT to direct the District Magistrates of Prayagraj and Kaushambi to take necessary action according to the law.
The Yamuna river is a major river in northern India, originating in the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand and flowing through the states of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh before merging with the Ganges at Prayagraj. The river is one of the most polluted in the world, mainly due to untreated domestic and industrial waste being discharged into it. The illegal mining in the riverbed exacerbates the pollution levels and poses a serious threat to the environment.
The NGT has been taking strict action against illegal mining in the riverbeds of various rivers in India. In January 2021, the NGT had directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to take strict action against illegal sand mining in the riverbed of the Yamuna. The NGT had also directed the CPCB to submit a report on the pollution levels in the river and the measures taken to control it.
The NGT has also directed the state government and the Pollution Control Board to ensure that no mining activities take place in the riverbed without obtaining the necessary environmental clearances. The NGT has emphasized the need to protect the rivers and their ecosystems as they are an integral part of the environment and the ecological balance.
Illegal sand mining has become a major issue in India, with reports of rampant illegal mining in several states. Sand is a crucial natural resource used in construction, but its indiscriminate extraction has led to severe environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and the destruction of river ecosystems. Illegal mining also leads to the loss of revenue for the government and promotes a black market for sand.
Various organizations and environmental activists have been raising their concerns about the issue of illegal sand mining in India. They have called for strict action against the violators and the need to protect the rivers and their ecosystems. The NGT’s directive to the District Magistrates of Prayagraj and Kaushambi to take action against illegal mining in the Yamuna riverbed is a step in the right direction towards ensuring environmental protection and maintaining ecological equilibrium.
The NGT has been playing a vital role in protecting the environment and ensuring that violators are held accountable for their actions. It has been instrumental in stopping illegal mining, preventing the dumping of waste in rivers, and taking measures to reduce pollution levels in the environment.
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