The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has questioned why the Uttarakhand government has allowed sand mining to take place in calamity-ridden areas.
In two shocking notifications issued by the state government on July 12 and August 1, the state government has allowed mining to take place in all the areas that have been hit by the recent floods.
Sand mining is suspended during the monsoon months but despite the official figure of 6,000 lives being lost in the recent calamity, the Uttarakhand government continues to have its priority skewed, warned the National Green Tribunal.
The National Green Tribunal has also warned the Uttarakhand government against issuing of fresh permits for carrying out sand mining without prior permission from the environment minister.
A petition before the National Green Tribunal pointed out that though the state needs sand for purposes of reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure which had been damaged in the recent floods, mining should be allowed only after a thorough study was made of the impact of such activity on the environment.
The petition before the NGT alleged sand was being removed not only from river beds and farmlands, but also in areas which were affected by the recent floods.