Report by Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) in Original Application No. 87 of 2020 (Kiran Pal Rana Vs Union of India & Others) dated 27/11/2020. The matter related to illegal sand mining activities in district Shamli, Uttar Pradesh.

The report by the UPPCB mentioned that as per records available by the District Administration and concerned departments there is only one sand mining project near Nangla Rai village, Kairana block, district Shamli. Environmental Clearance (EC) to the project proponent was granted by the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on January 22, 2020 and the mining lease was issued to the project proponent on March 4, 2020 for sand mining in an area of 24.92 hectare.

Although, Consent to Establish (CTE) was granted to the project proponent by UPPCB on March 31, 2020 - yet based on the fact of non-compliance of conditions of CTE and also due to non-submission of compliance to the EC within the prescribed time limit, the Consent to Operate (CTO) is yet to be granted by the UPPCB.

The Joint Committee formed to look into the matter stated that - the sand mining activity was carried out without obtaining CTO of UPPCB, thus the unit was liable to pay Environmental Compensation (EC) for defiance of the statutory provisions. The Joint Committee recommended that the unit should pay Rs. 10,70,000 towards EC and sand mining activity by the Unit should resume only after satisfactory compliance of conditions imposed in CTE.

Note: The UPPCB report was uploaded to the NGT site on January 04, 2021.