NGT wants Sonepat mining sites inspected

We direct Sonepat district magistrate to personally look into the matter and visit the mining sites on the river bed and pass instructions to the officers concerned. NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL

NEW DELHI: Taking strong note of rampant illegal mining in Sonepat district, the National Green Tribunal has directed authorities to inspect the sites, seize machines such as JCBS and take strict action against violators.

A bench of Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore directed the district magistrate of Sonepat to personally look into the matter and inspect the mining sites on the Yamuna river bed.

The green panel said it was “shocked” to see the state of affairs and the manner in which mines were being operated.

“We direct the collector, Sonepat, to personally look into the matter and visit the mining sites on the river bed so as to have first-hand information and thereafter pass necessary instructions to the officers concerned, including those of the mining department and police,” the bench said.

The Sonepat superintendent of police was directed to visit the mining sites, at least twice a week, and pass appropriate orders to the SHO concerned who had to keep daily vigil and post adequate forces in the area, it said.

“It is made clear that if any complaint is received by the tribunal, which prime facie satisfies that mechanised mining in the river bed is being done by any person, then the station house officers of Rai, Murthal and Gannaur shall be personally answerable and liable for the consequences,” the bench said.

The directions came after it perused a report filed by advocate Abhishek Atrey, who was appointed the court commissioner in the case.

According to the report, a fleet of trucks, JCBS (mechanical excavators) and other mining equipment were found on the sites.

“In the light of the information given by the court commissioner, it is clear that the persons at the mining site had moved away only at the time when the court commissioner went,” it said.

“At the site, everything appeared to be functioning. The court commissioner informs (us) that when he visited a site a number of local villagers had met him, giving their full identity, and complained to him, so much so that all these mines are using heavy machineries and are in operation 24×7,” the bench added.

The tribunal asked the superintendent of police (SP) to submit a weekly report on the status of the mining and if he found that machineries such as trucks and JCBS were used then he “shall immediately take appropriate action against the defaulters in accordance with the law”.

The matter is posted for a hearing on May 24.

The green panel was hearing a plea filed by Kumar, a Haryana resident.