Supreme Court asks green tribunal to resolve sand mining issue

In a matter related to giving environment clearance to some lease holders for sand mining in the state, which is being heard in Supreme Court, the court ordered National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday, to resolve the matter in 3 weeks time and give its decision.

The Supreme Court will now hear the matter after 4 weeks.

Sources informed that the decision was given by division bench of justice, A K Sikri and justice Ashok Bhushan while hearing a petition filed by an NGO.

Notably, petitioners had approached the court, challenging the order of ministry of environment giving Environment clearance (EC) to 5 lease holders.

It was claimed that the EC was given without any study.

Sources informed that now the petitioners will have to file afresh in NGT.

Meanwhile, the sand mining ban still continues in the state due to another order of SC given in November, 2017. The Supreme Court will now hear the matter in another 6 weeks time.

Sources informed that various builders and officials may now start considering options like crusher dust which is used in some states in the country as an option of sand.  This crusher dust is already being used in many places in Delhi, Noida and other places.

The ban was imposed by SC on sand mining in the month of November and since then, sand is not available for construction works which is hurting many projects in the city. The bajri transporters claim that current ban is hitting them hard.

To file afresh 

• It was claimed that the EC was given without any study. Sources informed  that now the petitioners will have to file afresh in NGT.
• Notably, petitioners had approached the court, challenging the order of ministry of environment giving Environment Clearance (EC) to 5 lease holders.