Don't issue fresh sand mining permits: NGT to U'khand govt

The order came on a petition filed by Khush Naseeb Khan who has alleged that large scale removal of sand from river beds is being carried out without any environment clearance

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today directed the Uttarakhand government not to issue any fresh permits for carrying out sand mining in the state on a plea alleging that such activities are going on in violation of its orders.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also issued notice to Uttarakhand and sought its response by the next date of hearing, September 26, on the plea seeking a stay on the operation of the state government's notifications allowing sand mining without permission of the MoEF.

The order came on a petition filed by Khush Naseeb Khan, a resident of Uttarakhand, who has alleged that large scale removal of sand from river beds is being carried out without any environment clearance, as the state has issued notifications extending the period of licences granted by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for sand mining.

Advocate Ajit Sharma, appearing for Khan, submitted that though the state needs sand for purposes of reconstruction of buildings, infrastructure, which were damaged in the recent floods, mining should be allowed only after studying impact of such activity on the environment.

He contended the state has not taken into account the possibility of change in the rivers' course as well as occurrence of floods due to mining during the monsoon season.

Sharma also contended that mining activity in the state is in violation of NGT's August 5 order by which it had imposed a ban on removal of sand from river beds without environment clearance.

It is also alleged in the petition that removal of sand has been sanctioned by the state not only in river beds and farmlands throughout the state, but also in areas which were not affected by the recent natural calamity.

The petition claims that mining usually remains suspended during monsoons for environmental and safety reasons, but this year the state through its notifications of July 12 and August 1 extended the licence period to the rainy season.

It is also claimed that sand is being mined and stocked up in order to be sold when the notification expires on September 30.