MoEF panel: Illegal sand mining rife along Yamuna

Committee was set up after the Uttar Pradesh government suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal

A three-member committee,set up by the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) on August 6,2013,to look into allegations of illegal sand mining in Gautam Budh Nagar district,said in its report that rampant,unscientific and illegal mining is being carried out on many locations along the Yamuna.

Committee – headed by Dr Saroj,Director in MoEF,and comprising G C Meena,Deputy Collector of Mines,Indian Bureau of Mines,Dehradun,and K K Garg,Director of MoEFs regional office in Lucknow was set up following suspension of Durga Shakti Nagpal. Though the UP government claimed that she was suspended for hurting religious sentiments by demolishing a masjid wall in Kadalpur village,it was widely alleged that the action came in the wake of her taking on the sand mafia in the area.

In view of the observations of committee… it is evident that rampant,unscientific and illegal mining has been going at various locations in Gautam Budh Nagar district along Yamuna. This is in violation of the environmental regulations,the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act,1957,and the directions given by the Supreme Court,High Court of Allahabad and NGT,New Delhi, report said.

On August 7,committee,accompanied by three mining department officials of UP government,visited sites along rivers Yamuna and Hindon,such as Hindon Bridge near Kisan Chowk,Yamuna Bridge on Hamid Pur-Palval Road,Jewar,Mamnathal village (confluence of Yamuna and Hindon),Gaddi-Samastipur village,Kundli village,Raipur Khadar and Yakutpur.

The report notes that along the Yamuna Bridge on Hamid Pur-Palval Road,…scattered heaps of sand were visible along with signs of lifting the material.

Villagers confirmed that sand mining was being carried out there and some villagers even allowed the sand to be stored on their farms,the committee said.

At Mamnathal village,deep excavated areas were noticed along Yamuna,indicating lifting of sand and there were impressions of movement of heavy vehicles.

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At Gaddi-Samastipur village,sand was lying alongside path and seen stored in a few places in the village.

While there was no evidence of mining along the Hindon Bridge near Kisan Chowk both the banks were covered with grass near Kundli village there were lots of sand storage/stocks. In Yakutpur,too,sand mining was evident,the report said.

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