NGT stops sand mining in AP pending eco-clearance

VIJAYAWADA: National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday issued an order stopping sand mining operations in Andhra Pradesh unless fresh environment clearance is obtained by project proponents from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).

In this regard, NGT’s Chennai bench has sent stop notices to all sand reaches to which state government had given 110 environmental clearances. 

The issue came up after SEIAA had issued a stop mining order to Jai Prakash Power Ventures Limited on April 27, 2023.

The respondent’s counsel said after receipt of SEIAA’s notice, they had stopped mining. The counsel further submitted that based on NGT’s order, they had stopped mining in 1 to 18 ECs and not in the other 110 reaches.

Following this, NGT has directed SEIAA to file a report whether after its stop notice of April 27, 2023, the respondents or other project proponents had continued to carry on any sand mining activity in disobedience of the order.

The NGT also instructed the project proponent to file a detailed report on the issue.