Noida, Aug 7: Under pressure from various quarters over the unabated illegal sand mining along the Yamuna, Hindon, Ganga and other rivers, the ministry of environment & forests (MOEF) inspected the banks of the Yamuna here on Wednesday.
A ten-member team visited some of the most mining-prone sites in villages like Kondli, Gulabli, Jatta, Badli, Nangli Wajidpur and Naipur. They carried the inspection without being accompanied by officials from the district administration.
The ministry officials videographed sites where mining was rampant. They, however, refused to share the details of the inspection with the media.
"We have gathered some crucial information from these areas. We would submit the report to the ministry soon," said an official, refusing to be named.
Social activist Dushyant Nagar said: "The team of ministry officials visited some of the most highly mined sites. We would give a representation to the environment minister about the mining issue. The state government has been looting the state of its rich natural resources."
"The mining is being done by the mafia, shielded by the state government," he said.
