NGT forms committee to probe allegations of illegal mining by Brij Bhushan in UP's Gonda
New Delhi, August 3: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a Joint Committee to investigate allegations of illegal mining by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh. The committee will be tasked with verifying the factual position and taking necessary remedial action.
Raja Ram Singh brought forward the accusations, claiming that Brij Bhushan Singh, a Member of Parliament from Kesar Ganj, was involved in unauthorized mining activities in several villages, including Majharath, Jaitpur, and Nawabganj in Tehsil Tarbganj and District Gonda.
The complainant further asserted that more than 700 overloaded trucks were being used daily for the illegal transportation, storage, and sale of approximately 20 lakh cubic meters of minor minerals. He also alleged that these overloaded trucks had caused damage to the Patpar Ganj Bridge and Road.
The bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial member) and Dr. A Senthil Vel (Expert Member) stated that the application's claims raised environmental concerns under the enactments listed in Schedule I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. To address these issues, the bench decided to establish a Joint Committee to conduct an inquiry and implement necessary remedial measures.
#WATCH | Delhi: "My family or I have nothing to do with illegal mining even remotely. This is false news...The incident is bogus & untrue...My family or I have no relation with this..." says Former WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on NGT panel to verify… pic.twitter.com/04vf0Hi5sJ — ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2023
The NGT has requested a factual and Action Taken Report to be submitted within two months, and the next hearing is scheduled for November 7, 2023.
The constituted Joint Committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), and the District Magistrate of Gonda.
The committee is required to convene within one week, visit the site, address the grievances of the complainant, collaborate with the applicant and a representative of the concerned project proponent, verify the factual situation, and take appropriate remedial action while adhering to due legal procedures and allowing the project proponent an opportunity to present their side.
The NGT bench emphasized that the committee should specifically ensure compliance with the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, and the Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020. The committee is also tasked with examining the remediation and rehabilitation of mined areas and evaluating the damage caused to the river Saryu.
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- ANI
