The Delhi High Court has directed that a joint task force comprising Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police should be constituted to ensure check and stop on the illegal sand mining on the banks of Yamuna River.
The bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh instructed that the task force will have to regularly monitor the river banks and ensure no illegal sand mining.
The bench also directed that the DCP of Outer North – Mr. Ravi Kumar Singh should coordinate with the concerned SSP of the U.P. Police and constitute a Joint-Task Force to ensure that the illegal sand mining on the banks of Yamuna River is stopped
The court noted that the matter is of great concern and emergency as it leads to environmental degradation.
The court was hearing a plea moved by one Ravinder who asked for seeking to stop the sand mining at the Yamuna River bank near Delhi’s Hiranki village area.
He has alleged the illegal sand mining is taking place near the marginal embankment along the Yamuna river by deployment of Hydraulic Excavator and Dumpers.
The court found that the status report filed by the Delhi Police states that some part of the river bank area in question fall within the jurisdiction of Delhi’s Alipur police station whereas some part falls within the jurisdiction of the Uttar Pradesh police.
The court said the status report states that illegal sand mining is continuing,that some part of the Yamuna River bank area affected by illegal sand mining falls within Delhi and other part falls within U.P. Some arrests have also been made in pursuance of FIR No. 254/23, of some of the persons who were engaged in the illegal sand mining.
Justice Singh also expressed concern about the fact that a lease-deed was entered into between the District Magistrate of Ghaziabad and an entity namely M/s New Penther Sicurity Guard Services Prop Bani Sing permitting use of hydraulic excavators and JCB machines.
The court ordered that while directing the constitution of joint task force, the court directed the authorities to file a further status report in the matter before July 21, the next date of hearing.
A copy of this order be sent to SSP, Ghaziabad, U.P. for implementation of the same.