Referring to the illegal mining, a problem brought into focus by Nagpal, the inquiry committee said mining had been going on in violation of environmental rules, the mines and minerals (development and regulation) Act, 1957, and directions given by the Supreme Court, Allahabad high court and the National Green Tribunal.

At one site, the threemember committee found, illegal miners had hastily filled an excavated quarry by pumping huge amounts of water to hide any trace of mining activity. This had been done within hours of the environment ministry announcing the panel to probe illegal sand mining.

Making the panel's fi ndings public on Saturday, the Union environment ministry highlighted stretches along the Yamuna where illegal sand mining was rampant. These include stretches near the Yamuna Bridge (Zuppa Village), Hamid Pur-Palwal Road, Jewar; Mamnathal village (confluence of the Yamuna and Hindon); Gaddi-Samastipur village; Kundli village, Raipur Khadar and Yakutpur.

The report suggested seven measures which both the environment ministry and the state government may take up to prevent such activities. Among them is the need for appropriate disaster management safeguards in view of the area's high seismicity. The findings were submitted to the Union environment and forest minister Jayanthi Natarajan.

The report carries photographs of illegal quarries and statements given by villagers who may act as witnesses in courts if the matter comes up for hearing. The committee's findings will be submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which on August 5 asked the environment ministry and state authorities to come up with a response to the issue of illegal sand mining by Au gust 14. The NGT had come out with the direction while hearing a plea filed by the NGT Bar Association which alleged that illegal sand mining was on in UP with the "wilful connivance" of the state machinery. The report was prepared after a survey last week.

As per the fi ndings, sand mining takes place in sever al Noida and Greater Noida locations, even though only three leases have been given by the state government. Of these three, two have over shot their expiry in May The third has been extended till September 15.

All three mining leases adding up to over 400 acres are adjacent to each other in Raipur Khadar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar. Even these mines operate with out mandatory clearances There were no clearances from MoEF, the State En vironment Impact Assess ment Authority or the UP Pollution Control Board.

In 2011, UP's irrigation department had warned that the sand mining in No ida had pushed fl ood waters towards the embankment No-one took up the matter . They sent a communica tion marked to the SDM in April 2013. Realising that all of Noida would be at the risk of heavy fl oods Durga Sakthi took action only to be transferred im mediately after.