Amid the controversy surrounding IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal’s suspension allegedly over her opposition to illegal sand mining, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that without environmental clearance no mining of sand would be permitted in the state.

According to Yadav, the state government had taken strict action against illegal sand mining by registering FIR, slapping penalty on those involved in such activities and setting up a task force. Besides, the state government had adopted the e-tendering process for mining to check any illegality, he added while talking to newspersons on the sidelines of a function here.

A three-member environment ministry committee in its report submitted to environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan on Saturday confirmed that illegal sand mining was rampant at various places on the banks of the Yamuna in Gautam Budh Nagar district.

The committee found mining had been going on in the area without the mandatory approval of the state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA) and the state pollution control board.

The committee suggested restricting mining to a threemetre depth in the riverbed and at selected spots only.

SDM Durga Nagpal had been allegedly suspended for taking action against those involved in illegal sand mining.