The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monday issued notice to the Punjab government and relevant officials on a plea moved by Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and others seeking direction to stop all alleged illegal sand mining in state, especially in Ropar (Rupnagar). In his plea, Sidhu has also sought directions to state government to officials who have allowed alleged illegal mining in Ropar and initiate action against them. Issuing notices, a bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava sought the response of all respondents, including the district magistrate concerned, and fixed the matter for March 11. Speaking to reporters, Sidhu alleged that illegal sand mining was being carried out in Punjab under the patronage of the ministers. "Apart from Ropar, the issue has come to fore from Moga and Pathankot too and people have testified as eyewitnesses with proof,” said Sidhu. Stating that the Punjab government has been imposed with a penalty of Rs 630 crore, which it was yet to pay, Sidhu said that ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in state, the Aam Aadmi Party had “given a guarantee of generating at Rs 20,000 crore revenue” from mining and the money will be distributed among women who were promised Rs 1,000 per month allowance. "This makes it Rs 40,000 crores in two years, but only Rs 300 crore made it to the beneficiaries. The remaining Rs 39,700 crore went into their pockets. This is a serious matter involving the economy. Illegal sand mining is going on under the nose of Punjab ministers. We can also say that with their facilitation, illegal mining is being carried out," Sidhu added. “Punjab’s rivers and environment is being ravaged under the watch of a corrupt and compromised government…This petition seeks to hold the government and authorities accountable for their inaction and compel them to enforce environmental safeguards,” reads his petition. “It is shocking that illegal mining is being carried out on the ED attached government land of an NDPS accused Jagdish Bhola.. The AAP, which came to power with on record guarantee.of institutionalizing mining.promised a fortune and delivered a dead mouse,” read the petition. He further wrote that “a sand trolley which was available for people at Rs 3000 during Congress government in Punjab is today being sold at Rs 21,000 by AAP government.” The petition seeks NGT to “direct the Punjab government to immediately halt illegal mining and initiate stringent action against violators, constitute a high level committee to investigate past violations, assess environmental damage and fix compensation,” said Sidhu. “We cannot allow our hills and rivers to be sacrificed for illegal profiteering.” Sidhu said that the “issue of sand mining is a double edged sword which is not only damaging our environment but has also derailed the economy” of Punjab. “Our Gurus have taught us to protect our air, water and soil. The only reason behind illegal mining is greed for money,” he added.
