New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Sciences (MoEF) has affirmed allegations of illegal sand mining in two districts of Andhra Pradesh and told the Supreme Court that the activity continues despite a year-old ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
In a report given to the top court last week, the ministry said it conducted physical inspection of six and five sites in the erstwhile Krishna and Guntur districts respectively and found non-compliance of the NGT’s order.
The survey was conducted following the 10 May Supreme Court order, which sought a report from the ministry on the allegation that sand mining in these areas continued with impunity, in violation of the prohibition.
The report provides extensive details as well as photographs of two sites — falling under Krishna district — where the ministry official witnessed the activity going on during his visit. The company found breaching the order did not possess any clearances including environmental from either the state or Centre, it said,
As for the remaining four sites there and five in Guntur, the report claimed the mining was stopped on the day of inspection. But photographs, it said, showed that sand mining hasn’t stopped at these places and carries on unabatedly, without any approval of the competent authority.
Taking note of the ministry’s disclosure as well as Andhra Pradesh government’s status report, which, too, accepted the presence of the illegal activity in the two districts, the SC constituted two separate committees for each district for ensuring compliance of the NGT order. The committees shall be headed by the district collectors.
On 16 May, a SC bench led by Justice Abhay S. Oka ordered that the committees, comprising officials from various departments, including the police, shall be responsible for stopping the illegal activity by making regular visits to the sites.
“We make it clear that the district collectors and all officials forming part of the committees shall discharge their duties as officers of this court and they must remember that it is their duty to prevent illegal mechanised mining,” it said.
The bench also ordered the MoEF to make surprise periodic visits to the sites where there is a possibility of carrying out illegal mining.
It also directed the state to create a grievance redressal mechanism in each district in the form of a toll-free number and a special email ID where citizens can lodge complaints regarding illegal mining. The complaints received on this forum shall be forwarded to the committee for taking action, the order said.
Wide publicity shall be given to this mechanism not just in newspapers, but also through local television channels, the order added, warning the state officials of contempt in case the NGT judgement on mining is found to be violated.
The proceedings in the matter relate to a 2023 appeal filed by companies who challenged NGT’s order that stopped them from carrying out sand mining. In July last, the top court had stayed the tribunal’s order, albeit partially. The direction related to prohibition of mining activity was not put on hold.
As mining continued in the two districts, the petitioner on whose plea the green tribunal had banned mining, filed an application SC, complaining about the continuation of the illegal activity. His lawyer, senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra, informed the bench that illegal mining activity continues notwithstanding the NGT verdict and the SC order.
In this background the top court on 29 April asked the central environment ministry to verify the allegations made by the complainant. The ministry official witnessed sand mining in Srikakulam Sand Reach Area, which is located in Krishna district.
Mining is being carried out in approximately one kilometer stretch at various locations and that sand is being excavated to the depth of four to five feet, much beyond the water level of the river, the report disclosed.
On checking the records, it was found that the company involved in the mining operation does not have prior approval/permission from the department of mines and geology, government of Andhra Pradesh nor got environmental clearance from the state body or consent orders from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB).
An inspection of the Srikakulam Stock Yard showed that the sand retrieved during the illegal mining stocked there had been dispatched.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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