New Delhi, Apr 9 : National Green Tribunal (NGT) today sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea seeking prohibition of alleged illegal sand mining near
Narora atomic power station in Sambhal district. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to the state government on the petition which alleged that illegal mining was being carried out in the close vicinity of the atomic power station and on the banks of river Ganga and its floodplains in the area.
The bench asked the state government to file its response and fixed the matter for hearing on May 9. The plea also sought directions to UP government, state level environment impact assessment authority and the district administration to “stop illegal sand mining completely without obtaining environmental clearance and other required permission” and also to study its impact in the region.
The petition, filed by Modi Nagar resident Phirey Ram Prajapati, alleged sand mining mafias have started to trespass in private agricultural fields located near the flood plains. It said such illegal mining was not only in contravention of the Environment (Protection) Act but also against the NGT’s order as per which sand mining without any environmental clearance was banned across the country.
“Illegal mining has been continuously taking place near close vicinity of Narora atomic power station and on the banks of river Ganga and its flood plains. It is respectfully submitted that these sand mining mafias have now started trespassing private agricultural field located near the flood plains,” the plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, alleged.
“There is a increased necessity of studying the impact of sand mining in the region, the deterioration caused and the remedial measures. The illegal sand mining has already led to devastating consequences in the region and changed the river hydrology and affected the ground water,” it alleged. It further contended that illegal sand mining was continuing “unabated under the nose of the government officials in Sambhal district” and if the district administration took a round in the area, they would see lakhs of cubic meters of sand amassed by mining mafias in the past couple of months.