NGT slams MP govt for illegal mining in Narmada & Ken rivers

BHOPAL: National Green Tribunal (NGT) slammed state government for rampant illegal mining in the state in two cases. While one is related to Narmada river in Narsinghpur district and other to Ken river in Panna district.

A fresh case of illegal mining in Narmada river in Narsinghpur district was admitted on Thursday.

Applicant advocate Vijay Sahani submitted photographs showing hundreds of trucks and tractor trolleys mining sand. Sand mining was being carried out near bridge in violation of guidelines and administration was not checking it, he said.

Sahani said he would try and submit before the tribunal GPS coordinates of areas facing problem of illegal mining.

Thereafter, NGT central zone bench comprising judicial member Justice Dalip Singh and expert member Ranjan Chatterjee issued notices to the state government and other respondents and ordered collector Narsinghpur to take immediate action.

Also, state counsel Sachin K Verma was asked to instruct zonal officer to carry out spot inspection and submit report of all mining activities in Narmada River in Narsinghpur district and give their GPS coordinates.

NGT ordered compliance report should be submitted by June 4 even during vacation before Registrar Mohan Tiwari. The case will come up for hearing next on July 3.

In second case of illegal mining in Ken river in Ajaygarh of Panna district, the state submitted that inspection was carried out in about 20 km of the river between villages of Chandora, Beera, Binachandipati and Pharswaha. And there is only one sanctioned sand mining lease of two hectares in name of Sushil Kumar Mishra.

The inspection committee, which was constituted by administration, found ‘some pits’ establishing that illegal excavation and sand mining was being carried out. Action had been taken against nine stockists and cases were registered which were pending for adjudication before the court of SDO (revenue) Ajaygarh tehsil and cases of illegal extractions were registered against 11 violators.

Thereafter, NGT issued notices against seven persons for carrying out illegal mining activity, three for illegal storage and against seven for illegally transporting sand. They would have to reply by August 4.

Besides, any vehicles involved would not be released by any authority/court without referring to tribunal. NGT also made clear that these proceedings would be in addition to proceedings and cases already registered against them for causing loss to environment and/or abetting same.

Notices would be served through Panna SP, who shall be responsible to ensure that summons were served.