Udupi: The National Green Tribunal on Monday in its order has disallowed sand mining to be continued in the areas under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in the barb of sand bar removal.
The Chennai bench of the NGT was hearing a petition filed by Udaya Suvarna from Baikady and others about the environmental hazards as well as other issues that locals faced owing to the sand mining activity being carried on at Kukkude in Baikady, which falls under CRZ.
The court noting that there had been violations of the guidelines laid down provided by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and that sand mining was being carried out in the name of sand removal cancelled all permits issued by the district administration for the same. The verdict comes as a huge victory for the environmentalists.
Speaking to reporters, advocate Ranjan Shetty appearing on behalf of the petitioners mentioned that the court verdict is based on the observations that the district administration did not involve local civil society while giving permits, a mandatory guideline laid down by MOEF.
Also a technical report was sought from Mr S G Mayya, a retired professor of NITK instead of taking it from NITK which is another violation. Udupi administration had submitted sand bar identification documents to Prof Mayya for technical report before the date fixed for physical sand bar identification (spot inspection). As per guidelines sand can be removed from sand bars only if there are sand bars and cause obstruction to navigation of fishing boats, he stated adding that new permits can be issued only after complying with all rules and guidelines.
