Cannot ban dredging, desilting of dams: NGT

No illegal mining must be permitted in the guise of desilting

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal has refused to ban dredging or desilting of dams or riverbeds while holding that no environmental clearance is required for the same. The Tribunal however directed that no illegal mining should be permitted in the guise of desilting or dredging of dam sites or lakes or rivers. The Tribunal’s order came on an application which contended that in the guise of desilting the Srivaikundam dam, illegal mining was being carried out and also the desilting was not being done in a scientific manner causing serious environmental damage. The bench directed the Tamil Nadu government to take steps for installing CCTVs in the places allotted or identified for dredging, desilting or mining to monitor the activities scientifically, curb illegal mining and to enable identifying of culprits effectively.