NGT cancels all permits of sand extraction in CRZ areas of the District
Udupi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai Bench, in its judgment on Monday February 27, cancelled all permits for the extraction of sand issued by the district administration in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas of the district.
According to Ranjan Shetty, the advocate for applicants the NGT pronounced that sand mining in the name of sand bar removal cannot be permitted. Most of the guidelines provided in Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) notifications for sand bar removal are not followed. The very identification of sand bar is faulty. Udupi administration has not involved local civil society as mandated by MoEF notification while giving permits. Technical report from Mayya, a retired professor of NITK, is taken instead of directly from NITK which is another violation, the NGT verdict stated.
All permits issued stands cancelled. The district administration had submitted the sand bar identification documents to Prof Mayya (NITK) for the technical report before the date fixed for physical sand bar identification (spot inspection). According to the guidelines, sand can be removed from sand bars only if sand bars exist as they cause obstructions to the navigation of fishing boats. Seven member committee as per MoEF notification for sand bar removal is also not properly constituted, the verdict declared.
The NGT had issued a stay order on May 17, 2016, against sand mining activities in CRZ area in the district following a petition by Udaya Suvarna and others. The district is facing acute shortage of sand and the available sand is sold for a high price which is not affordable for the common man.
