NGT bans mining on 85 sites spread across the state (Photo: Jagran)
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Jagran correspondent, Gurdaspur. The National Green Tribunal has banned mining at all 85 sites spread across the state. This ban has been imposed under the application given to protest against the tendering process of extracting sand from the river of the Panchayat of Gahaldi village of Gurdaspur district. This order has been passed by the New Delhi based Principal Bench of NGT.
It should be noted that these sites were identified by the Punjab Department of Water Resources last year. This ban will remain in force until further orders. It is noteworthy that NGT is a legal judicial body which focuses on environment protection and forest conservation.
The Punjab government had recently issued tenders for extracting sand from the river and mining at these sites. The lawyer of Gahaldi Panchayat had argued that since the work of extracting sand and gravel is for commercial purposes, hence environmental clearance is required for it.
It was also said that the village is below the river and if sand and gravel are extracted, the village land will be adversely affected. NGT has ruled that although the tender work will proceed, the work of extracting sand and gravel will not start. The lawyer also raised the issue related to compliance with environmental rules.
The order assumes great significance for the villagers as large tracts of land were destroyed due to illegal mining during the floods in the state in August and September last year.
Former Sarpanch Gurpal Singh, Satnam Singh, Sukhdev Singh etc. have welcomed the decision of NGT. He says that due to continuous mining from Darya, the nearby villages are facing huge losses. Even during the recent floods, there was a lot of damage to the agricultural land in the area due to mining.
There should be a complete ban on mining at this place. At the same time, Mining Department officials are not commenting on this matter at present. He says that something can be said in this regard only after thoroughly reading and understanding the written orders of NGT.
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