Latest news with #SustainableSandMiningManagementGuidelines
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Kavya raises illegal sand mining issue in Parliament
Hanumakonda: Duringa question-and-answer session in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Dr. Kadiyam Kavya raised concerns about the impact of illegal sand mining in the erstwhile Warangal district. In response, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), represented by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, addressed the issue. The MP highlighted the environmental damage occurring along the Godavari riverbanks and questioned the Central government about the steps taken in this regard. She sought explanations whether any studies had been conducted on the environmental impact of illegal sand mining, the current status of forest restoration projects under the Green India Mission (GIM), protection measures for the Pakhal Lake Wildlife Sanctuary from encroachments and pollution and the allocation of funds in previous and current years for development of ecotourism in the Warangal forest areas. In his reply, Yadav confirmed that a study on the impact of illegal sand mining along the Godavari riverbanks had been completed. He stated that the government was providing policy and technical support to assist the State government initiatives. To regulate sand mining, he mentioned the release of the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMMG) in 2016 and the Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining (EMGSM) in 2020. Regarding forest expansion under GIM) the minister noted that the State government had not yet submitted its proposal. Nevertheless, some projects were being implemented in Warangal district. In reference to protection of wildlife sanctuary, he explained the Central actions based on information provided by the Forest department. These actions include restoring encroached lands, registering cases under the Telangana Forest Act of 1967, planting saplings on reclaimed lands, preventing illegal entry into forests and establishing strict patrolling to stop wildlife hunting. He also said awareness programmes have been launched to prevent encroachments and poaching and the use of plastic around the Pakhal Lake has been banned. Under the Green Fund scheme, ₹274 lakh was allocated for restoration of Pakhal lake. Water samples from the lake are tested monthly under the supervision of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board. Guidelines for ecotourism in forest and wildlife areas were released in 2021.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
NGT orders probe into illegal sand mining at Gunadei Brahmani river quarry
CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT)'s east zone bench in Kolkata formed a fact-finding committee on Friday to investigate the allegations of illegal sand mining at Gunadei Brahmani river sand quarry in Dhenkanal. The order came in response to a petition filed by Talcher-based Youth United for Sustainable Environment Trust. The petition alleged large-scale violations of the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, at the quarry, which spans 11.80 acre in Gunadei village under Odapada tehsil. The Trust claimed that the project was continuing operations illegally, without the necessary Environmental Clearance (EC) transfer and in violation of conditions attached to the original EC granted in favour of the tehsildar on March 30, 2021. The bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar and Dr Arun Kumar Verma, issued notices to the state government, SEIAA, State Pollution Control Board, MoEF&CC, and the lessee. The five-member fact-finding committee has been tasked to investigate the site and submit a report within three weeks. In the order, the bench noted the EC was liable to be revoked after May 2022 if a satisfactory Annual Rate of Replenishment Study was not submitted, a condition that remains unmet.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
NGT orders probe into ‘illegal' sand mining in Dhenkanal
1 2 Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered an investigation into alleged illegal sand mining at a quarry in the Brahmani river in Dhenkanal district. The directive came during a hearing on Friday on a petition filed by a Talcher-based NGO which alleged that sand was being mined illegally over 11.80 acres from the river at Gunadei village under Odapada tehsil, flouting several environmental norms and guidelines. The petitioner's counsels, Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy (appearing virtually), claimed the project was operating in violation of the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, issued by the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change. Taking note of the charges, NGT's east zone bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) constituted a five-member fact-finding committee comprising officials from the Dhenkanal administration, Odisha State Pollution Control Board, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), and the mines department. The Dhenkanal district magistrate will act as the nodal officer for coordination. The committee has been directed to conduct a site inspection and file a report on affidavit within three weeks. The matter has been listed for next hearing on Aug 19. NGT in its order noted that the original environmental clearance (EC) granted on March 30, 2021, to the Odapada tehsildar, was conditional upon submission of an annual rate of replenishment study (ARSS) by May 2022 — a requirement that was not fulfilled. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dolly Parton, 79, Removes Her Makeup and Stuns Everyone The Noodle Box Undo On July 12, 2023, the EC was transferred to a private lessee. However, SEIAA flagged it as a "violation case", acknowledging that the quarry had operated without proper transfer of clearance. The petition alleged that although the lessee was permitted to extract only 8,618 cubic metres of sand in the third year, mining exceeded permissible limits within just four days, with over 100 trucks operating daily, suggesting extraction of nearly 2,000 cubic metres per day. Other allegations include mechanical mining in violation of manual mining conditions, lack of demarcation at the site, unapproved district survey report and failure to display statutory clearances. Use of heavy vehicles was also said to be impacting the river's flow and local infrastructure.
