NGT Seeks Report From State On Illegal Mining In River Son [Read Order]

The Central Zone bench of National Green Tribunal Bhopal has directed the district collectors of Umaria and Shahdol of Madhya Pradesh to take immediate action against persons indulged in illegal sand mining in river Son.

The illegal mining is causing threat to the endangered species Ghariyal found in river Son.

The scientific name of Gharial is Gavialis Gangeticus a crocodilian of Gavialidae family native of India is one of longest with length of 6.25 meters with long thin snout armed with 110 sharp inter digitated teeth, said advocate Nityanand Mishra.

The Tribunal has directed the district collectors to seize the equipments and the vehicles used in illegal sand mining in the river.

The illegal sand mining is being carried out by constructing illegal bridge across the river by blocking water flow and the same be opened and the channel for water flow be restored, the bench directed.

The court also directed the Pollution Control Board to seek report from its regional officer in this regard.

A Central Zone bench of NGT of Judicial Member Justice Dalip Singh and Expert Member Dr. SS Garbayal issued the directive to the district collectors while taking cognizance on a newspaper report on illegal mining in river Son.

The bench said “we direct that the learned counsel for the State to get the report with regard to the factual position from the collector and the District Mining Officer Shahdol as well as the Umaria since both these districts have been mentioned in the news report.

The bench took the cognizance on the news report while hearing the pending original application of advocate Nityanand Mishra.

Read the Order here.