NAINITAL | April 14, 2016: Taking note of alleged serious violations of mining guidelines on Gaula river in Kumaon, a team of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) will visit the river for survey in May. NGT had announced a ban on mining in the river a few months ago and prohibited the use of heavy machinery near the riverbed, but reports of illegal mining continuing in the river had been received.
Parag Madhukar Dhakate, divisional forest officer, said, "A team of NGT officials will visit next month to survey the Gaula river."
On Wednesday, a team of officials from forest, mining and revenue departments inspected various mining gates after complaints of illegal mining. Witnessing that various norms were flouted, a hefty fine of Rs 10.46 crore was imposed on Forest Development Corporation, a government agency responsible for regulation of mining.
Earlier this month NGT took notice of the contempt plea filed by a Dehradun-based activist who alleged that illegal mining is still continuing on Gaula river in violation of the tribunal's order passed in January this year. The bench had ordered the state government and ministry of environment and forests to conduct an inspection of the site and furnish its report to NGT by July 4, the next date of hearing.
The Gaula river originates at Padampuri in Nainital district and flows through Haldwani forest division and Terai east forest division (TEFD). The total length of the river is around 60-70 km, of which a 29 km stretch from Kathgodam to Lalkuan is being used for sand and boulder extraction.
The fine was imposed after an inspection team found gross violation of norms. The officials of the mining department then claimed that that action will be taken against companies if they fail to deposit the fine within the stipulated time period of one month.
Apart from the loss of revenue the illegal practice poses a threat to the ecosystem of the state as well as most parts of the Indo-Gangetic plain, according to environmental activists. Unchecked quarrying on the Gaula catchment area had been a blow to the local ecosystem, which may eventually lead to massive incidents of landslides and soil erosion, claimed environmental activists.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)