Stop illegal mining in Rupnagar, says NGT

NEW DELHI : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab government to stop illegal sand mining in Rupnagar district and take action against the erring officers within three months.

Expressing concern over rampant mining, a bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed Punjab chief secretary to appear before it on March 7 with a compliance report on the issue.

It directed the state government to stop illegal extraction and transportation of sand, recover compensation for violations and take action against the vehicles used for mining in Rupnagar’s Harshabela, Swarha and Baihara villages.

The NGT also directed the committee formed to look into illegal mining to make an assessment of the damages to be recovered. “The compensation should be deterrent so as to render illegal activities unprofitable. The vehicle involved may not be released unless 50% of its showroom value is recovered. The damages should include not only the cost of the illegally mined material but also for damage to the environment,” it said.

The tribunal’s direction came after perusing the report of a committee comprising officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, mining director and the state pollution control board.

In its report submitted to the NGT, the committee said mining was being done in unscientific manner and beyond the permitted depth.