The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has castigated three district magistrates of Uttar Pradesh and the member secretary of the state’s pollution control board for granting permission “in a mechanical manner” for mining works in the state’s turtle wildlife sanctuary.
Issuance of clearances and grant of permission for such activities in the prohibited areas was not only a flagrant violation of environmental laws but also “non-application of mind and exercise of illegal power” by the authorities concerned, the NGT said.
A bench of NGT judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad was hearing two connected matters regarding illegal sand mining in the sanctuary on the banks of Ganga spread across Pyayagraj, Mirzapur and Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadhoi). Noting the evidence before it, including the reports of two joint committees, the tribunal in its order dated October 24 said that mining leases were in the “prohibited area” both inside the notified sanctuary and in its vicinity, and this contravened the SC directions.
The tribunal said the DMs and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board failed to explain how and in what circumstances mining permissions had been granted or consent or clearances were issued.
