Illegal sand mining on in UP, Haryana: NGT seeks Centre's

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today sought responses from the Centre and Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments on a plea alleging that illegal sand mining is still going on in some districts of the two states.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed that the alleged instances of illegal sand mining in the districts Jhansi and Jalaun of Uttar Pradesh and Faridabad in Haryana be prohibited and ordered the District Magistrates and Senior Superintendents of Police of the areas to ensure the order is complied with.
Appearing for petitioner Ram Babu in the Uttar Pradesh matter, senior advocate Raj Panjwani claimed illegal sand mining is happening on the banks of river Betwa in Jhansi and Jalaun districts of the state and it is being carried out under the guise of clearing out a dump there.

"A very unique strategy has been adopted by them," he said adding sand mining is also being done under the garb of removing sand deposited by rivers on agricultural fields.
The petition alleges illegal mining of sand is going on in districts Jhansi and Jalaun with the aid of the state government which has allowed the people responsible to stock up the sand for selling it later.
Ram Babu's petition also alleges there are over 13 mining areas in the two districts where sand is being removed without environmental clearance and by not paying any royalty to the government.

The petition relating to illegal sand mining in Faridabad district of Haryana was filed by one Ashok Kumar who has alleged sand is being removed from river Yamuna without environmental clearance and in violation of the NGT's orders.

The NGT had on August 5 banned sand mining, without clearance, from river beds across the country and later by its August 14 order extended the ban to beaches as well.
Advocate Rahul Choudhury, appearing for Ashok Kumar, alleged that whenever his client complains to the police about illegal sand mining in Faridabad, his complaints are ignored.