Environment clearance for sand mining on NGT radar

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal issued notice to the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) on Tuesday against its policy to decentralise granting of environmental clearances for mining of sand and other minor minerals. The MoEF has been allowed two weeks to respond to a plea raised by an environment activist seeking the quashing of notifications to amend the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment notification and establishment of district-level panels for evaluation of such projects.