New Delhi, Mar 24 The National Green Tribunal has formed a panel to find the extent of alleged illegal mining in the Yamuna riverbed in two villages in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district.
The green body was hearing a plea alleging that a private entity, M/S Yamuna Mines, had engaged in illegal mining in the villages of Nai Nangla and Manglaura, and despite complaints, no action was taken by the authorities concerned.
In an order dated March 23, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert members, A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, sought a response from the district magistrate, the state’s director general of police, the state pollution control board, the district mining officer and others.
“Having regard to the seriousness of the issue involving the matter, we also form a joint committee comprising the representatives of the member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, regional officer, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Lucknow, and district magistrate, Shamli,” the tribunal said.
It said the district magistrate will act as the panel’s nodal agency.
“The joint committee will visit the site without any delay and will ascertain the extent of illegal mining which has been done by the Respondent 19 (M/S Yamuna Mines) and will also ascertain the status of environmental clearance, consent to establish (CTE) and consent to operate (CTO) by the respondent,” the tribunal said.
It said that the joint committee would also ascertain the extent of damage caused to the environment, besides recommending remedial and punitive measures.
