The National Green Tribunal on Thursday sharply criticized three district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh and the state’s pollution control board member secretary for granting mining permissions within the turtle wildlife sanctuary in a “mechanical manner,” disregarding environmental safeguards.
In an order dated October 24, an NGT bench led by Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad reviewed two related cases involving illegal sand mining within the 30-kilometer sanctuary along the Ganga River, which extends through Prayagraj, Mirzapur, and Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) districts.
The tribunal found that mining leases were granted within “prohibited areas” inside and around the sanctuary, directly violating Supreme Court directives.
The NGT’s examination, which included findings from two previously established joint committees, highlighted that these approvals not only breached environmental laws but also revealed what the tribunal termed “non-application of mind and exercise of illegal power” by involved officials, including district magistrates and regulatory bodies.
The tribunal stated, “This is a flagrant violation of environmental laws, non-application of mind, and exercise of illegal power vested in authorities which includes the DMs concerned, SEIAA, and UPPCB.”
Further criticism was directed at the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for failing to assess the environmental impact or review these permissions. The tribunal noted that it seemed clearances and consents were granted without proper scrutiny, further emphasizing the environmental negligence by these statutory bodies.
In response to these findings, the NGT directed the member secretary of UPPCB and SEIAA to provide an explanation for the permissions granted for mining activities within these restricted zones, despite Supreme Court restrictions.
“We direct member secretary, UPPCB and SEIAA to explain as to how and in what circumstances, consent and clearances were issued for permitting mining activities in prohibited areas and that too in violation of directions issued by the Supreme Court,” the tribunal stated. Similar accountability was demanded from the district magistrates of Sant Ravidas Nagar, Mirzapur, and Prayagraj.
The NGT set a deadline of November 20 for the officials to submit valid justifications for their actions. Failure to do so will result in mandatory appearances before the tribunal. This firm stance underscores the tribunal’s commitment to upholding environmental law and protecting the fragile ecosystem of the turtle sanctuary from potentially damaging mining operations.
