Ban on earth mining for bricks and roads: NGT

In a blow to brick-kiln industry and road contractors, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned digging of earth across the country for making bricks and roads without prior environment clearance (EC). A bench headed by Justice P Jyothimani has directed the Chief Secretaries of all the states and union territories to ensure that its interim order is adhered to.

“We restrain any person, company and authority to carry out any such digging activities of brick earth or ordinary earth against the directives issued by the environment ministry on June 24, in any part of the country without obtaining EC from the competent authority. The chief secretaries of all states/union territories are to ensure strict adherence to this order,” it said.

The ban on brick earth mining comes one-and-half months after the NGT banned sand mining from river beds, without environment clearance, across the country.

According to the petition, MoEF in its office memorandum to the states has directed that digging of earth for making bricks and roads requires EC from the competent authority. The petition has alleged that in spite of the decision of the apex court and the directives of the MoEF, the Uttar Pradesh government has not framed rules/guidelines for the purpose of obtaining EC and are allowing indiscriminate digging of earth.