NGT slaps notices on govt for green norms' breach

BHOPAL: National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal bench, has served notices to the state government for violation of environmental laws in issuance of lease for sand mining in Betul and Hoshangabad districts. District-level environment committee gave the nod for the lease.
Major and minor mining leases have been allotted in 10 km periphery of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO site, which is also against environmental norms, a petition filed with the NGT alleged.NGT central zone bench comprising judicial member Justice Dalip Singh and expert member PS Rao served notices recently asking for reply by April 22.
According to petitioner Bhupendra Gupta, "The petition contends that allotment of mining lease is in violation of the MoEF notification of September 9, 2013 and environment impact assessment (EIA) notification of September 14, 2006, which states that mining leases have to be granted only by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) or State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) as per judgment of the principal bench of NGT last year in November."
Even after the notification of September 9, the district level environmental committee chaired by Betul collector issued mining leases in contravention of the same on September 28 last year, after the model code of conduct came into force, the petition challenged.
The committee also stated that mines in Shahpur and Ghodadongri blocks did not come under Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve area and gave permissions for mining. With rich flora and fauna, the biosphere is spread over an area of 4981 sq km and included in parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chhindwara districts.
"Ironically, MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) official attended district environmental committee meeting though the MPPCB had issued MoEF notification on its website on September 19. The forest department officials were also present at the meeting," Gupta said.
Last year on November 28, principal bench of NGT, headed by chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, had quashed MP government's plea that its district-level environmental committees be treated as competent authority for grant of clearance for any such activity.
According to central law, sand mining on land measuring five hectares or more requires environmental clearance from MoEF and clearance for areas less than that is given by SEIAA.