Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Hindu
The Hindu
National
V. Raghavendra

NGT directs AP Chief Secretary to ensure strict implementation of aquaculture and sand mining regulations in coastal areas

VIJAYAWADA:

The Chennai-based south zone Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Chief Secretary of Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) and Principal Secretary (Environment and Forests) to ensure strict implementation of aquaculture and sand mining regulations in coastal areas as per the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). 

The NGT issued the above direction while disposing of a petition filed by Y. Venkatapathi Raja of Sakhinetipallli in East Godavari (E.G.) district for action against those doing illegal beach sand mining and operating aquaculture farms which have no clearances from the Departments concerned, in Pallipalem and Gogunnamatam villages of Razole Mandal and Kesavadasupalem, Chintalamori, Sankaraguptam, Padamatipalem, Turpupalem, Gollapalem, Karavaka and Kesanapalli in Malkipuram and Sakhinetipalli Mandals. 

Advocate Madhuri Donti Reddy appeared for the State of A.P. while Sravan Kumar represented the petitioner. 

Justice K. Ramakrishnan, judicial member of the NGT Bench, and expert member K. Satyagopal said in their order that the A. P. Aquaculture Authority, the Fisheries Department and E.G. District Collector should take appropriate action against the persons who are operating illegal/unauthorised aquaculture farms in the coastal zone or other areas without obtaining necessary permission or licences.

Besides, the tribunal instructed the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Department of Mines and Geology (DoM&G), A. P Coastal Zone Management Authority (AP-CZMA) and the District Collectors in general to monitor illegal seashore sand mining and take action against the persons violating norms. 

Further, the NGT directed DoM&G and the CZMA to fully comply with the Regulation of Maintenance and Enforcement of Guidelines, 2020 issued by the MoEF&CC and the Sustainable Sand Mining Policy of 2016.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.