Illegal sand mining: Directions to the Chief Secretaries, and the Ministry of Environment
The National Green Tribunal has issued a lot of directions to the Chief Secretaries, and the Ministry of Environment with applications relating to the update of the mechanism of enforcement and monitoring to control and regulate illegal sand mining, including river sand mining.
Some of these applications have been delayed for around seven years while others have been marked into things that are delayed later, from time to time, given the general question of illegal sand mining.
Unsustainable sand mining practices are rampant in India
The bench led by Chairperson of NGT Adarsh Kumar Goel directs all states and the UT’s to strictly follow sustainable sand management guidelines, 2016.
Secretary of the Environment coordinating with the Mining Secretary and the Ministry of Jalshakti, the Central Pollution Control Board
“We then direct that periodic inspections are carried out by the five-member committees, monitored and coordinated by SEIAA and consists of CPCB, SPCB, and two members of the SEAC experts dealing with the subject.”At the national level, the reviews need to be done at least once a year by the Secretary of the Environment coordinating with the Mining Secretary and the Ministry of Jalshakti, the Central Pollution Control Board, Bench said.
Mining and Jalshakti Ministries of Central Government
All states and UT’s are further directed to publish their annual reports on subjects and the annual report can be equipped with the Ministry of Environment on April 30 every year, providing the status of the problem until March 31.
Based on the report, the Ministry has been asked to prepare consolidated reports and publish its own reports on this issue, preferably on May 31 every year.
“We direct the MOEF Secretary to hold a coordinated meeting with CPCB, Mining and Jalshakti Ministries of Central Government and other experts at the national level and state representatives in three months, holding the meeting will provide clarity about law enforcement strategies and environmental protection, “it said.
Guidelines for enforcement & monitoring for 2020 sand mining
In January 2020, the Ministry of Environment came out with guidelines for enforcement & monitoring for 2020 sand mining ‘to regulate sand mining and examine illegal mining.
Ending illegal sand mining
It comes four years after the government’s sustainable sand management guidelines’, which did not succeed in ending illegal sand mining that was rampant throughout the country.
Drones with night vision for the supervision in sand mining sites
This guideline suggests the use of technology such as drones with night vision for the supervision in sand mining sites, steps to identify sources of sand, procedures for sand filling, post monitoring environmental permits from sand mining sites, environmental audit procedures such as areas, and steps to Control Illegal sand mining instances.
