NGT Orders SEIAA to Take Urgent Action Against Rampant Illegal Sand Mining in Hailakandi | Guwahati News
NGT Directs SEIAA to File Affidavit on Illegal Sand Mining in Hailakandi
In a significant move, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) of Assam to submit a counter affidavit within 10 days regarding illegal sand mining activities in Hailakandi district. The affidavit must specify which District Survey Reports (DSR) have been prepared and which are still pending. Should SEIAA fail to comply within the given timeframe, its member secretary is required to appear in person before the tribunal on September 27.
The Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA) had earlier submitted an inspection report from a three-member committee, revealing that the DSR for Hailakandi district is not yet prepared. The report also stated that sand reserve estimates were conducted without the required DSR, violating the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMMG) of 2016. These estimates were said to have been calculated by the director of geology and mining using a simplistic approach, multiplying the leased area by the allowed depth of three meters.
The tribunal has also suggested adding the Department of Environment and Forest and the Directorate of Geology and Mining of Assam as respondents in the case, through their respective officials.
This directive from the NGT highlights the ongoing issues surrounding regulation and oversight in sand mining activities, emphasizing the need for adherence to environmental guidelines.
This update comes amid other significant legal proceedings, such as a genocide complaint filed against Bangladesh’s ex-PM Sheikh Hasina and others, and the introduction of menstrual leave policies in Odisha, reflecting diverse governance and policy challenges in the region.
Original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/ngt-directs-seiaa-to-file-counter-affidavit-on-illegal-sand-mining-in-hailakandi/articleshow/112615921.cms
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