NGT bans illegal beach sand mining in Tamil Nadu, Kerala

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today banned illegal sand and minerals mining without environmental clearance on beaches and other coastal areas in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
A five-member bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed the chief secretaries of the two states to file personal affidavits before August 29, the next date of hearing, on the allegation of illegal beach sand mining there.
"Let Chief Secretary of State of Tamil Nadu and State of Kerala file their personal affidavits before the next date of hearing, in regard to the facts stated in this order.
"After hearing the applicant, we also prohibit illegal and unauthorised sand and minerals mining without leave of Ministry of Environment and Forests(MoEF)/State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SIEAA) on the beaches or on other coastal areas," the bench said.

The tribunal passed the order while hearing a petition filed by senior advocate Raj Panjwani, on behalf of the NGT Bar Association, alleging that rampant illegal sand mining is going on in various states including Uttar Pradesh.
During the hearing, the bench noted that particular reference of violation has been made to Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The counsel stated that around 2,30,000 tonnes beach sand mineral has been quarried in Vaippar village in Tamil Nadu without permission of any government authority.