Hyderabad: The National Green Tribunal in Delhi on Wednesday directed the Chief Secretaries of both TS and AP to explain the reasons for not implementing its orders staying the use of heavy machinery for sand mining in both the states.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Jawad Rahim and Dr Ajay A. Deshpande (expert member) was dealing with two applications by Readiness for Empowerment through Legitimate Action (RELA) represented by its secretary Ramesh Babu from TS and Ms Varalakshmi from Polavaram in AP, seeking a ban on use of heavy machinery in sand mining that causes damage to the flood banks/riverbed and also results in total destruction of ecology besides causing air and sound pollution.
K. Sravan Kumar, counsel appearing for the petitioners, brought to the notice of the bench that despite its orders, large-scale mining operations have been going on in both the states.
He placed photographs of heavy machinery being used to quarry sand in Krishna river near Amaravati of AP.
When counsel for AP took exception to the photographs, the bench asked why machinery was being allowed to excavate sand.
Counsel replied that de-siltation works have been going on at Prakasam Barrage near Amaravati.
The bench said “When the Tribunal banned heavy equipment on the riverbanks, how would you allow the machinery. It’s for the tribunal to decide whether it’s de-siltation or excavation of sand.”
When the bench sought the response from counsel for the TS, government, he sought more time.
The bench adjourned the case for two weeks after directing the Chief Secretaries of both the states to file the affidavits.
