NGT forms panel to dispose sand on Yamuna riverbed

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a committee to weigh and dispose around 70,000 cubic metre of sand and clay lying on the riverbed of Yamuna at Wazirabad and Jagatpur bund areas in New Delhi.
This decision was taken by a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swantanter Kumar after Delhi Jal Board (DJB) had informed NGT regarding disposing of sand and clay lying on the river bed to contractors which was banned earlier.
Guidelines set by NGT bench

• The committee will deposit entire earning from this sand and clay with DJB.
• Mining in the name of dredging will be carried out by any of the respondents till the next date of hearing on January 27, 2015.
• The royalty would be computed on actual content of clay and sand in the dredging material.

Background
Earlier, NGT had completely banned sand mining in the name of dredging on Yamuna River at the two sites. This decision was taken after a petition seeking a complete ban on illegal sand mining in New Delhi without obtaining environmental clearance.
About National Green Tribunal

• National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (NGT) is a federal legislation enacted by the Parliament of India, under India’s constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.
• The tribunal itself is a special fast-track court to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2014