NOIDA: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday issued notices to the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana over allegations that illegal sand mining carried out on the borders of the two states is adversely impacting the environment of the villages in the region. The notices were issued based upon a petition filed by an NGO, Noida Lok Manch, highlighting instances of illegal sand mining on the Yamuna floodplains near Chaksalarpur village of Noida.

The NGO has alleged in the petition that the land from which sand is being dredged by the mafia belongs to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and falls in Tilapat village in Faridabad district of Haryana. As per the submissions made in the petition, the land is over 4,500 acres and falls across both sides of the Yamuna.

The tribunal has also issued notices to the IAF and the Union environment ministry seeking their responses to the allegations by October 28.

The NGO claims that mafia have been selling sand mined from this region in Noida and Greater Noida. The NGO has also contended that farming activities on the Noida side of the river have been badly affected by unscientific and illegal sand mining practices.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/UP-Haryana-get-notices-from-National-Green-Tribunal-for-illegal-sand-mining/articleshow/23115945.cms

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