NGT takes Suo motu cognizance of matters related to illegal sand mining in Bilaspur

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter related to illegal sand mining in different places in the Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh.

The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated  29.03.2024.

As per the news item, Revenue and Mining Departments have seized 125 tractors filled with sand and that the illegal sand in 35 tractors was kept in Ghutku Village. 

Similarly, at Singrauli 40 tractors of illegal sand were dumped and 50 tractors sand was found at Village Ghutku left abandoned, therefore, the administrative authorities have taken action .

The news item does not disclose any action by the Pollution Control Board for imposition of environmental compensation for illegal sand mining.  

The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.    

“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”

Hence, the Principal Bench of  Justice Prakash Shrivastava , Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr. Afroz Ahmad  impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:

(1). Central Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary. 

(2). Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, Raipur, through its Member Secretary. 

(3). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Integrated Regional Office, Chhattisgarh, Raipur. 

(4). Collector/District Magistrate, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh  

Since the matter relates to the Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal , therefore, the Bench transferred the matter to the Central Zonal Bench, for appropriate further action. Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Central Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 28.05.2024.