The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has censured three district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh along with the state’s pollution control board for authorising mining in a designated turtle wildlife sanctuary.
The tribunal described the permits as a “mechanical” issuance, devoid of any proper assessment or legal grounds, and in violation of environmental regulations.
During a hearing on two cases concerning unauthorised sand mining within the 30-kilometre sanctuary area along the Ganga river – spanning Prayagraj, Mirzapur, and Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) – the tribunal noted that mining approvals had been granted within prohibited sanctuary zones.
These actions contravened directives from the Supreme Court, which has stressed strict protection for India’s wildlife reserves.
A bench led by Justice Sudhir Agarwal, with expert member Afroz Ahmad, highlighted findings from two joint committees, which revealed that several leases had been sanctioned not only within the sanctuary boundaries but also close to its peripheries.
This, they stated, illustrated a “flagrant violation of environmental laws” and indicated that the district magistrates, along with the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), had issued permits without due scrutiny.
“This is not only a flagrant breach of environmental regulations but a clear case of non-application of mind,” the tribunal asserted, “and it highlights the exercise of illegal authority by the concerned DMs, SEIAA, and UPPCB.”
The tribunal further chastised the officials for failing to provide justifications for the permissions granted, despite the areas being classified as prohibited for such activities.
It ordered that the member secretary of UPPCB, SEIAA, and the three district magistrates submit formal explanations regarding the issuance of these mining permits, emphasising the need for adherence to Supreme Court mandates on protected areas.
In its directive, the NGT warned that if adequate explanations were not provided, the member secretary and district magistrates from Prayagraj, Mirzapur, and Sant Ravidas Nagar would be required to appear in person before the tribunal on 20th November.
The tribunal's ruling signals a critical reminder to regulatory authorities to exercise environmental oversight with vigilance, particularly in ecologically fragile zones such as the turtle sanctuary along the Ganga, an area vital for conservation efforts.
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