On a claim of an environment activist that he was being “threatened” after filing case against illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, the National Green Tribunal Monday issued notices to the UP Chief Secretary, UP State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police of the district.
On April 8, the NGT had issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on a petition by Modi Nagar resident Phirey Ram alleging that illegal mining was being carried out in the close vicinity of the Narora atomic power station and on the banks of Ganga and its floodplains in the area.
Phirey Ram’s petition further claimed that locals had given him photographs which clearly support his case and also shows that the sand mafia is carrying out illegal activity under the “nose of the administration”.
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The petition had further alleged that “despite notices being issued to the state government by this tribunal, the sand mafias are continuously and consistently carrying on illegal mining at the bank of Ganga, village Ishampur, tehsil Gunnor, district Sambhal and that too without fear of law.”
Earlier, the NGT had sought a response from the UP government on the plea which had also sought directions to the state government, state level environment impact assessment authority and the district administration to “stop illegal sand mining completely without obtaining environmental clearance and other required permission”.