Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item titled "CG News Ret Mitti ka avaidh parivahan 28 highway tractor vaahano kee jabti karyavai" appearing in Raigarh Top News dated 27.02.2024.

The original application was registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled "CG News Ret Mitti ka avaidh parivahan 28 highway tractor vaahano kee jabti karyavai" appearing in ‘Raigarh Top News’ dated February 27, 2024.

The news item related to the alleged illegal sand mining in Janjgir Champa district of Chhattisgarh. The news item disclosed that on the joint action by the mining and police departments from different places, 28 Hywa/tractors involved in the illegal transportation of sand and minerals were seized from Janjgir Champa district. However the news item does not disclose any action taken by the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board in respect of levy of environmental compensation upon the violators who have caused damage to the environment by carrying out the illegal sand mining.

The NGT said that the news item raised substantial issues relating to compliance of environmental norms and directed Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, Raipur; Central Pollution Control Board among others to file their reply before the Central Zonal Bench within four weeks.