NGT impleads 7 senior officials in Yamuna sand mining case

The NGT will conduct further hearings on sand mining near the Yamuna, involving senior authorities, with responses due before the next hearing on September 15.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said further hearing is required in a case concerning sand mining near the Yamuna river and impleaded seven senior district and police authorities as respondents.

The order was passed on August 11 in a suo motu matter initiated by the tribunal in November 2024 based on media reports. (HT Archive)

The order was passed on August 11 in a suo motu matter initiated by the tribunal in November 2024 based on media reports.

“The tribunal noted that arguments had earlier been heard and the judgment/order had been reserved on May 8, 2026. However, after examining the material on record, the Bench considered it necessary to conduct further hearing and to implead additional authorities whose presence was considered necessary for proper adjudication of the matter,” the NGT said in a statement.

The commissioners of police of Delhi, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar, along with the senior superintendent of police, Baghpat, have been impleaded as respondents. The district magistrates of Outer North Delhi, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Baghpat have also been impleaded as respondents.

The tribunal said further consideration was required on several aspects of the case, including the formation of a joint task force by the Uttar Pradesh government, quarterly meetings of the task force, uploading of meeting minutes on its website, mining activities in the inter-state area, joint patrolling and action taken by police authorities to prevent illegal mining.

“The Bench has particularly sought consideration of the action taken by the Commissioner of Police, Ghaziabad; Commissioner of Police, Delhi; Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar; and Senior Superintendent of Police, Baghpat in relation to the prevention of illegal mining,” the NGT said.