Sand mining in capital: NGT seeks Delhi govt's response

The National Green Tribunal today sought the Delhi government's response on illegal extraction of sand being carried out in the Yamuna river bed at Wazirabad and Jagatpur bund areas here.
The order came over a petition by Rahul Nagar, filed through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, seeking a direction to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to take legal action against those involved in illegal sand mining.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swantanter Kumar issued notice to Delhi government, DPCC and others while posting the matter for next hearing on October 9.
"Issue notice on this application. Reply be filed within two weeks from today," the bench said.

Earlier, on September 1, the bench had directed the Delhi government to stop illegal mining being carried out without requisite environmental clearance in the Yamuna river bed.
Nagar has alleged that despite the stay on illegal extraction of sand by the tribunal, the "sand mafias are still extracting sand with the active support of Delhi Police".
"Direct DPCC to forthwith constitute a team under the supervision of an officer not below the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police to stop the illegal extraction of sand in the national capital and specifically at the Wazirabad and Jagatpur Bund area of the national capital," the plea said.

Nagar contended that the extraction of sand is still going on and also recorded a purported video of the trucks carrying on extracted sand from the Wazirabad and Jagatpur bund area.