UP, Shamli DM get NGT notice over Yamuna mining

Noida: National Green Tribunal on Monday issued notices to the UP govt, pollution control board and Shamli district magistrate over illegal mining on the Yamuna floodplain, directing them to file a reply at least a week before the next hearing on July 3.

The principal bench of the tribunal, comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava and expert members Dr A Senthil Vel and Dr Afroz Ahmad, also ordered the formation of a joint committee to conduct a field verification and file a report within three weeks.

The joint committee will comprise representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), regional office of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, Lucknow, and the district magistrate of Shamli. The DM will act as the nodal agency.

It will assess the extent of illegal mining, verify the status of environmental clearances and statutory consents, evaluate environmental damage caused and recommend remedial and punitive measures. The committee has been instructed to complete its exercise within three weeks and submit a report thereafter, following which further action will be taken.

The directions were issued while hearing an application filed by Amit Kumar, who alleged that M/s Yamuna Mines carried out mining activities in the villages of Nai Nangla and Manglaura without obtaining mandatory environmental clearance (EC) and consent to establish or operate from the competent authorities.

Kumar said that despite complaints lodged with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the DM, and the local police, no action was taken to stop the activity.

He alleged that mining operations, utilising heavy machinery, were continuing unabated in proximity to a police check post.

In support of his claim, Kumar submitted documents indicating that the environmental clearance application was still pending, having been referred to the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), UP, but not yet granted, proving that mining could not have legally commenced.