A three-member committee, set up by the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) on August 6, 2013, to look into allegations of illegal sand mining in Gautam Budh Nagar district, said in its report that "rampant, unscientific and illegal mining" is being carried out on many locations along the Yamuna.
Committee - headed by Dr Saroj, Director in MoEF, and comprising G C Meena, Deputy Collector of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines, Dehradun, and K K Garg, Director of MoEF's regional office in Lucknow — was set up following suspension of Durga Shakti Nagpal. Though the UP government claimed that she was suspended for hurting religious sentiments by demolishing a masjid wall in Kadalpur village, it was widely alleged that the action came in the wake of her taking on the sand mafia in the area.
"In view of the observations of committee... it is evident that rampant, unscientific and illegal mining has been going at various locations in Gautam Budh Nagar district along Yamuna. This is in violation of the environmental regulations, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the directions given by the Supreme Court, High Court of Allahabad and NGT, New Delhi," report said.
On August 7, committee, accompanied by three mining department officials of UP government, visited sites along rivers Yamuna and Hindon, such as Hindon Bridge near Kisan Chowk, Yamuna Bridge on Hamid Pur-Palval Road, Jewar, Mamnathal village (confluence of Yamuna and Hindon), Gaddi-Samastipur village, Kundli village, Raipur Khadar and Yakutpur.
The report notes that along the Yamuna Bridge on Hamid Pur-Palval Road, "...scattered heaps of sand were visible along with signs of lifting the material".
Villagers confirmed that sand mining was being carried out there and some villagers even allowed the sand to be stored on their farms, the committee said.
