After finding out that sand is being mined illegally from the banks and bed of the Yamuna on the pretext of de-silting and dredging to maintain the flow of river, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to ensure sand mining is not permitted anywhere on the banks of the river and its surrounding areas.
“No illegal and unauthorised mining will be permitted anywhere on the river bank and its surrounding areas without proper compliance, permissions and particular environmental clearance,” said a Bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar.
Dredging involves removal of bed material and associated vegetation from a river channel. Removal of scrub from river banks is also associated with dredging. The Bench was informed that illegal sand mining was going on in Delhi and one of the sites specified during the hearing was Jagatpur Bandh at Wazirabad. However, the authorities concerned claimed it was de-silting and not sand mining, and that the same was being done to ensure that no undue sand/silt collects on the river bank so as to obstruct the flow of the river.
The Bench then asked for samples of material dredged by the contractor and the same was sent for analysis. The report revealed the sample to be 80 per cent sand, following which the Bench held it could not be termed as de-silting.
Following this, it constituted a panel comprising a senior Mining Department officer, officers of the Corporation and DJB, and representatives from the DPCC and Union Environment Ministry to consider the report and contract, and submit their recommendations to the NCT of Delhi, which will then pass appropriate orders.
