The National Green Tribunal has pulled up the Environment Ministry (MoEF) for moving at a snail’s pace in naming a committee to look into the magnitude of damage caused by illegal mining activities on the Yamuna riverbed from Noida to Faridabad.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar expressed concern that MoEF, even after a month, has not appointed its representative to the committee constituted by it.
The tribunal on February 18 had constituted a committee of representative of MoEF, senior officer from Indian Air Force, senior scientists from Pollution Control Board of Haryana, senior officer of mining department of Haryana and one professor to be nominated by VC from Guru Jambheshwar University, Haryana to survey the illegal mining.
“The directions contained in the order dated February 18, 2015 have not been complied with. Furthermore, the committee constituted under the order has not even met as yet. We are informed that the MoEF has not appointed its representatives,” the bench noted.
The tribunal directed the committee to meet within one week and submit its report to it on next date of hearing.
It said that the Member Secretary of Haryana Pollution Control Board shall act as a nodal officer and will be responsible for the submission of the report to the tribunal.
The matter is listed for next hearing on May 1.— PTI
