NGT pulls up Railways, Mining Dept over Illegal Sand Mining in Baddi; seeks restoration plan and accountability
Shimla, May 4,
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued fresh directions to the Union of India, specifically targeting the Indian Railways and the Himachal Pradesh Mining Department, seeking an explanation on how regulatory violations were overlooked in an instance of illegal sand mining in Mauza Khol, located in the industrial hub of Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. The case revolves around mining operations carried out without the mandatory Environmental Clearance (EC).
These new directives follow the submission of a detailed compliance report by amicus curiae Ritwik Parikh and an affidavit by contractor Gurdyal Singh, which provided information regarding permission granted for the extraction of 49,992 metric tonnes of sand and soil. According to the status report filed by the amicus curiae, the permission granted by the Railway authorities was in direct contravention of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the EIA Notification of 2006.
Reiterating its earlier order from March 2024, the NGT has declared the said permission null and void from the outset. It has instructed the state’s mining department to prepare and submit a detailed, time-bound plan for restoring the environment at the site that has been adversely affected. Although the Director of Industries, Dr. Yunus, informed the Tribunal that the violator had paid an environmental penalty of ₹1.08 crore, the Tribunal observed with concern that no report had yet been submitted detailing actual remediation efforts at the site. Consequently, it has now ordered the department to provide a comprehensive action plan with a clear timeline, warning that any failure to comply will lead to further legal consequences.
The Tribunal has further directed a review of all mining permissions granted in the Baddi sub-division over the past two financial years under Rule 33 of the Himachal Pradesh Minor Mineral Rules. The mining department has been asked to scrutinize whether any other permits were issued without the requisite environmental clearances and to ensure accountability wherever violations are found.
In a key ruling, the Tribunal has held both the Railways and M/s Singla Construction—the entity that utilized the illegally mined material—responsible for failing to uphold environmental compliance standards. The Ministry of Railways has now been instructed to audit its material procurement process related to the Chandigarh-Baddi rail project and submit a compliance report. The Tribunal has also directed that in all future procurement procedures, it must be verified that construction materials are sourced only from sites with valid environmental clearances, to avoid similar violations in the future.
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