NGT asks petitioner to approach monitoring committee

Illegal mining in Sutlej

New Delhi:  The National Green Tribunal has directed a petitioner, alleging illegal mining activities in Sutlej river basin in Himachal Pradesh, to approach a monitoring committee on the issue.  

 A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore said a larger bench of the tribunal has already constituted a committee with detailed terms of reference, which includes illegal mining activities in the Sutlej river.    
"Therefore, we direct the applicant to appear before the committee and participate in their meeting for his redressal," the bench said.  

The committee was formed by the tribunal on July 24 which comprised noted environmental activist Balbir Singh Seechewal, representatives of the central and state pollution control boards. 

"The Monitoring Committee must have one engineer and one scientist and also a member of the state pollution control board and a nominee of the Urban Development of the State of Himachal Pradesh," the bench had said.