The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a news item published on June 2, 2024, highlighting the exposure of pillars of the Ravi-Tawi Canal Bridge and railway bridge due to mining in the Basantar river of Samba.
The NGT’s Principal Bench in New Delhi has registered an original application to address the issue of large-scale sand mining in various rivers and water bodies of the Kathua and Samba districts in Jammu region and Ganderbal district in Kashmir Valley.
The NGT’s order dated July 16, 2024, impleaded parties and issued notices to them.
In response, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&KPCC) filed a report on October 15, 2024, disclosing that a three-member joint committee had been constituted to investigate the matter.
The joint committee’s report revealed several alarming facts, including the lack of demarcation of mining blocks, excavation work beyond the permissible limits, and failure to maintain a buffer zone with plantation.
The NGT’s order dated February 6, 2025, took note of the joint committee’s observations, which highlighted the environmental damage caused by illegal and unscientific sand mining.
The tribunal observed that the report revealed a clear violation of environmental norms and regulations.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also filed a reply, disclosing the legal framework for regulating sand mining and relevant orders passed by the tribunal in this regard.
The Principal Bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Dr Afroz Ahmad granted four weeks’ time to the Deputy Commissioners of Kathua, Samba, and Ganderbal to file their replies, failing which they would be deemed to be virtually present on the next date of hearing.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on May 15, 2025.
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