NGT appoints panel to inspect sand mining in Jalaun and Hamirpur

It also asked committee to file a report giving all conclusions drawn by them on illegal sand mining and people involved

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a panel to inspect the Betwa river bank in Jalaun and Hamirpur districts of Uttar Pradesh and probe the allegations of rampant illegal sand mining in the area.

A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi, which appointed retired forest official Anmol Kumar and advocate Sharad Chauhan as court commissioners, directed them to inspect every site where the sand mining "appears to have been carried out and also collect particulars of the land in terms of its description, khasra no. etc."

"Contact the holders of the said land in property and collect name as to who had carried out the sand mining operations. Collect particulars regarding the environmental clearances, if any, obtained for such sand mining,

"Visit toll nakas on the approach roads leading to the highways from the site visited and collect particulars of the trucks carrying the sand therefrom," the bench directed the panel.

It also asked the committee to file a report giving all conclusions drawn by them on illegal sand mining along with particulars of the persons who were involved in the activity.

The green panel also directed the District Magistrates of Jalaun and Hamirpur to provide assistance to the court commissioners "as and when required".

"We direct the District Superintendent of Police of Jalaun and Hamirpur to give necessary security cover to both the members of the commission, during the process of investigation.

Any lapse on the part of both the District Magistrate and SP in compliance with these directions will be viewed seriously and they will be held personally liable for such lapse," the bench said.

The matter is now listed for next hearing on July 19.

The tribunal had earlier directed authorities to immediately stop illegal sand mining in the area and issued notices to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Uttar Pradesh government, state pollution control board.

The direction came during the hearing of a plea by NGO Jan Sashaktikaran, represented through advocate Rahul Choudhary, seeking action against the alleged sand mining on river Betwa being carried out in violation of the law.