Stop illegal sand mining in Rupnagar: NGT directs Punjab government

The bench directed the state government to stop illegal extraction and transportation of sand, recover compensation for violations and take action against the vehicles used for mining in Rupnagar's Harshabela, Swarha and Baihara villages.

NGT also directed the committee formed in the case to look into illegal mining to make an assessment of the damages to be recovered.

"The compensation should be deterrent so as to render illegal activities unprofitable. The vehicles involved may not be released unless 50% of the showroom value of the new vehicle is recovered," said the tribunal.

It further said, "The damages should include not only the cost of the illegally mined material but also for the damage to the environment."

The tribunal's direction came after perusing the report of a committee comprising officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, mining director, and the state pollution control board.

The committee in its report submitted to NGT said mining was being done in an unscientific manner and beyond the permitted depth.

It said the stone crushers were located near the river bed in violation of law.

The committee further told NGT that the absence of check posts and the safety and stability of river banks were not maintained.

The committee was formed by the tribunal on October 20, 2018, on a plea filed by a lawyer Dinesh Kumar Chadha, who had moved the tribunal alleging huge environmental damage caused by illegal mining across the district.