New Delhi: National Green Tribunal on Friday clubbed and heard three matters concerning illegal sand mining activities along the Yamuna floodplain between Delhi and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, including a case based on NGT taking suo motu cognisance of a TOI report.It directed the chief secretary of Delhi to ensure the nomination of officials for the joint inter-state task force (Delhi & Uttar Pradesh) for monitoring illegal mining. The task force will conduct joint site inspections and submit a report at least a day before the next hearing on Oct 28, stated the order by judicial magistrate Arun Kumar Tyagi.In Aug, Delhi govt stated that signs of sand mining were found along the Yamuna during an inspection on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta raised the issue with her Uttar Pradesh counterpart. However, govt pointed out the lack of demarcation along the river stretch, creating confusion about the boundary.The reply by the revenue secretary on behalf of the chief secretary stressed that no sand mining was taking place now and authorities were directed to file FIRs if any violation was spotted. The affidavit also stated that traces of illegal mining were observed in March and some stretches along the river needed clearer demarcations to understand if mining occurred in Delhi or Ghaziabad. Delhi govt always denied incidents of sand mining in its jurisdiction.
