**NGT Forms Joint Committee to Probe Alleged Illegal Mining by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh**
*August 6, 2023*
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has responded to a plea alleging illegal mining activities involving BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by constituting a specialized Joint Committee. Comprising Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Dr. Senthil Vel, the NGT Bench directed the formation of this committee to ascertain the veracity of the allegations and take necessary corrective actions.
The tribunal's decision follows concerns raised in the application submitted by Raja Ram Singh, which highlighted claims of unauthorized mining in villages including Majharath, Jaitpur, and Nawabganj, Tehsil Tarbganj, District Gonda. The allegations further extended to the illicit transportation of extracted minor minerals through overloaded trucks, estimated at over 700 per day. The application also drew attention to the unlawful storage and sale of approximately 20 lakh cubic meters of minor minerals and the resulting damage to Patpar Ganj Bridge and Road due to the excessive truck loads.
In light of these serious allegations, the NGT emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation and adherence to environmental regulations specified in Schedule I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. To ensure a thorough examination of the matter, the Joint Committee will include 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 NGT has assigned the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) the pivotal role of coordinating and ensuring compliance in this case. The Joint Committee has been instructed to convene within a week, conduct on-site visits, address the applicant's concerns, involve both the applicant and the project proponent in the process, and meticulously verify the facts before taking appropriate legal actions.
Furthermore, the NGT has specifically called upon the Joint Committee to focus on adherence to the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines of 2016 and the Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining of 2020. Remediation and rehabilitation of affected mining areas, as well as addressing the damage caused to the Saryu River, are integral aspects of the committee's investigation.
The NGT has set a two-month timeframe for the submission of a detailed Factual and Action Taken Report, to be sent via email to [email protected] in a searchable PDF format. The matter is scheduled for further review on November 7, 2023, as the nation awaits the outcome of this crucial investigation into alleged illegal mining activities involving BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
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TAGS: NGT Joint Committee Alleged Illegal Mining BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Environmental Violations Verification Factual Position Judicial Member Expert Member Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change Central Pollution Control Board National Mission for Clean Ganga Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board District Magistrate Gonda Compliance Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining Remediation Rehabilitation Patpar Ganj Bridge River Saryu Application Investigation Environmental Regulations Coordination November 7 2023.
