New Delhi, March 24 The National Green Tribunal has constituted a committee to investigate the extent of alleged illegal mining in the Yamuna riverbed in two villages in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh.
The green body was hearing a plea alleging that a private entity, M/S Yamuna Mines, had been engaged in illegal mining in the villages of Nai Nangla and Manglaura, and despite complaints, no action had been taken by the relevant authorities.
In an order dated March 23, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert members, A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, sought a response from the district magistrate, the state’s director general of police, the state pollution control board, the district mining officer, and others.
"Given the seriousness of the issue involved, we also form a joint committee comprising representatives of the member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, the regional officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Lucknow, and the district magistrate of Shamli," the tribunal said.
It stated that the district magistrate will act as the nodal agency for the committee.
"The joint committee will visit the site without delay and will ascertain the extent of illegal mining carried out by Respondent 19 (M/S Yamuna Mines), and will also ascertain the status of environmental clearance, consent to establish (CTE), and consent to operate (CTO) obtained by the respondent," the tribunal said.
It further stated that the joint committee would also assess the extent of environmental damage, besides recommending remedial and punitive measures.