Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Raja Muzaffar Bhat Vs State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Jammu & Kashmir & Others dated 12/08/2022.

The appeal has been preferred against grant of Environmental Clearance (EC) for minor mineral block No. 4, Panzan Bridge to Trumbi Bagh (Lalgam), downstream Shaliganga Nallah, village Lalgam, tehsil Chadoora, district Budgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

Environmental clearance (EC) was granted to M/s NKC Projects without any replenishment study and thus violated the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016 and Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020. The applicant (Raja Muzaffar Bhat) has said that EC granted is illegal.

Non preparation of replenishment report is not disputed by the project proponent.

The NGT directed the project proponent not to undertake any further mining activities under the impugned EC.