Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Balbir Sandhu Vs Union of India & Others dated 29/08/2023.

The complaint of the applicant is that a mining plan of three units has been approved in violation of the District Survey Report (DSR) of Ambala district. Submission of counsel for applicant is that in terms of DSR, the total mineable mineral (boulder, gravel and sand) in Ambala is 38.29 lakhs MT. However, the miners have been permitted to extract around 71 lakhs MT of mineable minerals in district Ambala which is a clear violation of the District Survey Plan.

The court was of the opinion that the issue related to violation of statutory provisions concerning environment and directed a joint committee to look into the matter. The committee will carry-out the inspection, examine the concerned record and submit the report before the Tribunal on the issue involved in the matter within four weeks.