Report on illegal sand mining on the Yamuna river bed between Etawah and Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, 28/07/2020
Report of the Oversight Committee in compliance of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order June 17, 2020 passed in Original Application 475/2019 (Ajay Pandey & Others Vs Union of India & Others).
The matter related to remedial action against illegal sand mining on the Yamuna river bed between Etawah and Jalaun district including Auraiya district, Uttar Pradesh. According to the applicant (Ajay Pandey), illegal sand mining is taking place in river Yamuna and its four tributaries (Chambal, Kwari, Sindh and Pahuj) which merge in river Yamuna called Panchnad. The illegal mining is causing ecological damage to the river, affecting aquatic life, resulting in air pollution and other violations related to environmental norms. Overall, adversely affecting the health of inhabitants.
Observations of the Oversight Committee:
The Committee noticed from the inspection reports submitted by the District Magistrates of Auraiya, Jalaun and Etawah on the directions of the Committee that no illegal mining was found in the inspection in any of the concerned districts. It was found that there was no storage of sand at Muradnagar. In Bijalpur, plot number 3 had been duly allotted for five years to the leaseholder Pandey Brothers. Due to monsoon season, no mining activity was taking place in this area. No illegal mining was prevalent in Panchnad area. In view of the above, the Committee was of the view that no further action was required in the matter.
Note: The report of July 28, 2020 was uploaded to the NGT site on October 7, 2020