Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Jaswinder Singh Vs State of Uttarakhand dated 18/04/2022.

The grievance in the petition is against illegal mining which is being carried out by use of heavy machinery in private reserved forest land situated in village Rasool Pur Methi Beri, district Haridwar. About 1 km length of river Ramasan, a tributary of river Ganga, falls under the above said village is surrounded by forest land of Rajaji National Park on one side of the river and Khair and Sagon trees forest on the other. It is stated that illegal mining has caused big ditches in about 10 acres of land of the river which is already 20 feet deep from ground level. The illegal mining is being carried on within 2 kms from Rajaji National Park and is causing severe damage to biodiversity and environment of the sensitive area.

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The NGT directed a joint committee to look into the matter with the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board as the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.