National Green Tribunal. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
In a matter related to illegal sand mining in the Ganga, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pointed out lapses on the part of the Director of Geology and Mining, Uttar Pradesh, and the Member Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and warned that any future non-compliance would invite prosecution, including penal consequences, as per a recent judgment.
The applicant had alleged air and water pollution due to illegal mining in the region of Kanpur and nearby areas in Uttar Pradesh.
A bench of the NGT comprising Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad said in a judgement dated January 16 that the directions given by the tribunal in an earlier case connected to the current issue have not been complied with by the Director of Geology and Mining, Uttar Pradesh and the Member Secretary of the UPPCB.
“Even though the serious violations revealed by the material on record in the present case warrant an order for their prosecution for non-compliance with the order passed by this Tribunal, we consider it appropriate to take a lenient view and do not direct the prosecution of the Director, Geology and Mining, Uttar Pradesh and Member Secretary, UPPCB. But we forewarn Director, Geology and Mining, Uttar Pradesh and Member Secretary, UPPCB that in case of any future noncompliance, we may be constrained to order the prosecution of Director, Geology and Mining, Uttar Pradesh and Member Secretary, UPPCB for such non-compliance without any further leniency,” the judgment said.
The NGT also directed the Director, Geology and Mining, Uttar Pradesh and the Member Secretary, UPPCB, to ensure that the directions given by the tribunal in other connected cases are strictly followed, and inspection is also carried out by an Expert Committee at least thrice for each lease. The reports of such inspections should be acted upon and placed on the website of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
“All the District Magistrates and the Commissioners /Superintendents of Police of the concerned District are directed to periodically make surprise visits in the mining lease sites in the District for preventing illegal mining and to take all requisite measures to ensure that no illegal mining and illegal transportation of mined minor minerals takes place in the District. Failure to comply with an award, order, or decision of this Tribunal constitutes an offence,” the judgment said.
Published – January 31, 2026 12:18 am IST
