Mining

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (January 5, 2023)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal  

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Friday 06 January 2023
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Dumping of debris into Yamuna

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a joint committee to investigate a plea regarding the alleged dumping of construction waste and debris into the Yamuna during the widening of the Delhi-Yamunotri National Highway.

The tribunal was responding to a petition January 4, 2023.

“A lot of construction waste and debris was directly dumped in the Yamuna, damaging the ecology, trees, flora and fauna of the river and nearby area,” the petitioner had alleged.

It has also altered the course of the river. A lot of debris is still lying on the bed, damaging its fragile ecosystem, the applicant had stated.

The committee comprises the district magistrate, Uttarkashi and members from the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board.

The tribunal has directed the committee to visit the affected area, collect relevant information and submit its report within two months. District magistrate of Uttarkashi will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.

Stone blasting damages houses in UP

The NGT has directed a joint committee to investigate allegations regarding stone blasting damaging houses in Obra town in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh.

The tribunal was responding to a petition filed by the residents of Obra January 4. The residents are adversely affected as their houses are damaged, the petitioners said.

The NGT directed the committee to visit the site, collect relevant information and submit its report within two months.

Illegal excavation of sand from Son river

RK Transport and Construction Ltd, operating in Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh, has furnished false information for obtaining Environmental Clearance and mining lease, said NGT January 4.

“The Proponent made a false declaration regarding the existence of a National Park/Sanctuary/Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) within 10 Km from the applied /approved quarry,” the tribunal noted while responding to an application.

The project proponent has been granted environmental clearance for sand mining in a prohibited area of the eco-sensitive zone of Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, the petitioner had alleged.

The tribunal had appointed a joint committee to look into the matter and a report on the same was furnished in November 2022.

The proposed site of sand mining is located 1,138 metres from the eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) of Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, the report informed the NGT.

No annual sand replenishment report of the mining lease area was furnished by the officer-in-charge (mining section) of Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh, during the field visit, the NGT report stated. 

An August 17, 2022 letter by the deputy director of Sanjay Tiger Reserve, stated that the distance of the mine from Son Gharial Sanctuary has been found to be 1.950 km and the distance of the sanctuary’s notified eco-sensitive zone to the mine was 950 meters.

The notification regarding ESZ prohibits mining activities within 1 km of the boundary of the ESZ.

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