Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Junaid Ayubi Vs State of Uttarakhand & Others dated 06/01/2023.

Grievance in the application is against river bed mining of sand, bajri and boulder at villages Dakpathar, Nawabgarh, Mandi Gangbhewa and Bhimawala, tehsil Vikasnagar, district Dehradun, Uttarakhand which is a large site measuring approximately 123 hectares located on the river bed of Yamuna. According to the applicant, EC has been transferred by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam without following due norms.

The revenue department has claimed to have recovered the amount of Rs. 1,05,83,296.

The court noted that the amount does not reflect the cost of the entire mineral illegally mined by the project proponent and there is nothing on record to show that for illegal mining and damage caused to the environment, any action has been taken by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board with regard to assessment of environment compensation, lodging of FIR for committing crime by the proponent and other steps.

Further, no response has been received from Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, Geology and Mining Department, Uttarakhand and Project Proponent.

The NGT, January 6 said that the version of the proponent (M/s Uttara Awas Yojna) is necessary to be obtained for the purpose of deciding the matter. In addition, the Garwahl Mandal Vikas Nigam, Geology and Mining Department, Uttarakhand was also asked to file a reply.