The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed that the Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines, 2016 and the enforcement of monitoring guidelines for Sand Mining 2020 must be strictly observed with and in case of violation the Chhattisgarh Pollution Control Board have to take necessary legal and punitive actions in addition to the prosecution and realisation of environment compensation.
The Central Bench of Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Justice Dr. Afroz Ahmad disposed of a Petition filed raising the issue of illegal sand mining and violation of EC guidelines regarding excavation and mining of sand by the respondent in gram Saildeep, Kurud, Dhamatri, Chhattisgarh.
It is alleged that the contractor is involved in illegal sand mining and excavating the sand mining beyond the permissible limits and against the prescribed guideline. He has permission of excavating sand upto the limit 1.5 meters depth and only upto the extent of 73.500 m3 every year but excavation is done three times more that the prescribed limit and adversely affecting the plantation near the area. It is further alleged that the other land is also being used for sand mining and excavation without any authority by use of heavy JCB machines adversely affecting the environment.
The matter was taken up by this Tribunal on 03.01.2024 and a committee was constituted to submit the report . In compliance of the order the members of the committee visited the site and submitted the report .
On the perusal of the report , the Bench noted that there is no violation as stated in the letter petition. The necessary actions are being taken by the District Authorities. There is no specific mention of the violation by any specific person. The site which has been narrated by the applicant has been specifically examined by the committee. The Counsel for the State Pollution Control Board has submitted that the same application has already been disposed of vide order dated 06.02.2024.