SHILLONG, APR 19: The state government on Tuesday filed an affidavit before the Meghalaya High Court indicating that the issuance of some notifications pertaining to leases for sand mining and for effective monitoring.
During the hearing on a PIL, the Advocate-General has drawn the Court’s attention to a notification dated April 14, 2022 in particular, issued pursuant to the directions of the National Green Tribunal of April 5, 2019 and February 26, 2021 in O.A. No. 360 of 2015 (National Green Tribunal Bar Association v. Union of India).
The Amicus Curiae however said that it appears from the latest affidavit filed by the State and otherwise that the monitoring activities of the State have been confined to the Garo Hills area and not all over the State.
On this, the court said indeed, there are reports of widespread unregulated and illegal sand mining and extraction of rocks and stones from the riverbeds in several other areas, including places close to Shillong.
“It is clarified that to the extent the NGT has taken cognizance of the illegal sand mining activities and has issued directions in such regard, the Court will steer clear of such areas,” it said.
“If there is a matter in such regard pending before the NGT and the NGT is either monitoring the activities or ensuring that appropriate steps are taken to regulate and control sand mining in a sustainable manner, the present proceedings may be closed,” the court added.
The next hearing will be on May 24.
By Our Reporter
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