Mining on IAF land: NGT pulls MoEF for not appointing member

The National Green Tribunal has pulled up the Environment Ministry (MoEF) for moving at snail's pace in naming a committee to look into the magnitude of damage caused by illegal mining activities on the Yamuna riverbed from Noida to Faridabad.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar expressed concern that MoEF, even after a month, has not appointed its representative to the committee constituted by it.
The tribunal on February 18 had constituted a committee of representative of MoEF, senior officer from Indian Air Force, senior scientists from Pollution Control Board of Haryana, senior officer of mining department of Haryana and one professor to be nominated by VC from Guru Jambheshwar University, Haryana to survey the illegal mining.

"The directions contained in the order dated February 18, 2015 have not been complied with. Furthermore, the committee constituted under the order has not even met as yet. We are informed that the MoEF has not appointed its representatives," the bench noted.
The tribunal directed the committee to meet within one week and submit its report to it on next date of hearing.
It said that the Member Secretary of Haryana Pollution Control Board shall act as a nodal officer and will be responsible for the submission of the report to the tribunal.

The matter is listed for next hearing on May 1.

The bench had directed that the committee to survey the entire area of Tilpat Forest Range and submit a report to the tribunal in relation to the illegal mining carried out in the area and its extent in terms of money.
It had also asked the committee to recommend immediate measures for the restoration of the environment, particularly on the river bed of Yamuna in that area.
The green bench had directed Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and the MoEF to ensure continuous surveillance of the area besides a strict vigil and satellite imagery of the area at regular intervals.
The tribunal was hearing petitions filed by NGO, Noida Lok Manch and Ashok Kumar which had alleged that illegal sand mining is going on in IAF land- an air bombing and firing range -at Tilpat in Faridabad district of Haryana with the authorities doing nothing to prevent it despite complaints from villagers.