NGT panel to probe allegations of illegal mining by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh


PTI, Aug 3, 2023, 3:42 PM IST

The National Green Tribunal has formed a panel to verify the factual position and take appropriate remedial action on a plea claiming illegal mining by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh in some villages of Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district.

The petition alleged that illegal mining was being carried out by the Kaiserganj MP in Majharath, Jaitpur and Nawabganj villages of Tarbganj tehsil in the district.

The plea also alleged ”illegal transportation of extracted minor minerals by overloaded trucks, numbering more than 700, every day, storage and illegal sale of minor minerals measuring about 20 lakh cubic metres and damage caused to the Patpar Ganj bridge and road by overloaded trucks”.

A bench of judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said that prima facie, the averments made in the application raise questions relating to the environment.

”In view of the averments made in the application, we consider it appropriate that a joint committee be constituted to verify the factual position and take appropriate remedial action,” the bench said on Wednesday.

The tribunal formed a joint committee comprising the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control (UPPCB) and the District Magistrate, Gonda.

It directed the committee to meet within one week, ”undertake visits to the site, look into the grievances of the applicant, associate the applicant and representative of the project proponent concerned, verify the factual position and take appropriate remedial action by following due course of law and giving the opportunity of being heard to the project proponent”.

The committee may particularly clarify on compliance with the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, and the Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020, including remediation and rehabilitation of mined areas and damage caused to Saryu river, the tribunal said.

It said the factual and action taken report has to be submitted within two months.

The matter has been posted for further proceedings on November 7.

Gonda District Magistrate Neha Sharma told PTI, ”I have been made a member of the committee constituted by the NGT to investigate the illegal mining on the banks of Ghagra and Saryu rivers. The committee members will visit the said site to inspect and record statements of the parties concerned. We have also taken measures at the district level against those involved in illegal mining.” However, in a tweet, Kaiserganj MP Singh said, ”I have nothing to do with illegal mining even remotely” and claimed that news reports of him running overloaded mining trucks are false.

Singh, who is the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, is also accused in a case of alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Actress Kasthuri released from jail, says ‘I thank those who made me raging storm’

Kidnapped for ransom in 1998, 26/11 survivor Gautam Adani faces biggest trial

100 engineering colleges in Karnataka to be ‘adopted’ by corporates by next year: IT Minister Kharge

Siddaramaiah defends BPL ration card cancellation, says only ineligible beneficiaries affected

China announces new policy measures to protect its exports from Trump’s new tariff threat

Renovated Medical Oncology OPD and Chemotherapy Day Care Centre inaugurated at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal

Karnataka Health Minister justifies revision of user fees in state-run hospitals

Related Articles More

Actress Kasthuri released from jail, says ‘I thank those who made me raging storm’

Kerala HC quashes FIR against Goa Guv over remarks on Sabarimala women entry

Smriti Irani embarks on four-nation tour to promote book on PM Modi

Karnataka Milk Federation enters Delhi-NCR, offers competitive pricing on Nandini products

Rahul, Congress tried since 2002 to target Modi’s image, PM’s credibility remains high: BJP

MUST WATCH

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation

Geethotsava

Naxal Operation


Latest Additions

Siddaramaiah says confident of winning all three bypolls in Karnataka

Hop on! IT Minister Priyank Kharge checks out Uber Shuttle at Bengaluru Tech Summit

Actress Kasthuri released from jail, says ‘I thank those who made me raging storm’

Kidnapped for ransom in 1998, 26/11 survivor Gautam Adani faces biggest trial

AIMPLB to hold its annual general sessions in Bengaluru from November 23

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.