NGT Task Force Uncovers Major Illegal Sand Mining Operation on Yamuna Riverbed
A special inter-state task force conducted a dramatic late-night raid this weekend. The team acted on specific directions from the National Green Tribunal. Their target was the Yamuna riverbed near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. What they discovered shocked even experienced officials.
Midnight Raid Reveals Extensive Mining Operation
The raid began around 10 PM on Saturday night. Task force members descended on Harampur and Jagatpur villages. These locations sit directly on the Delhi-UP border. Officials received multiple complaints about rampant sand mining in this area. The complaints reached the Ghaziabad district magistrate's office directly.
The joint team included several key officials. Ghaziabad's mining officer participated actively. The additional district magistrate for revenue joined the operation. Police personnel provided security and enforcement support. Together, they moved quietly through the darkness toward the river.
They found excavators actively digging into the Yamuna riverbed. The machines operated approximately seven kilometers inside Delhi territory. This location surprised officials. The mining activity occurred far from any authorized zones.
Fake Permits and Elaborate Infrastructure Exposed
Officials confronted the miners directly. They asked for permission documents immediately. The miners claimed to possess official papers. These papers supposedly authorized mining in Pachera village. That location sits in Ghaziabad district.
"Further enquiries revealed that the permit they carried was fake," stated ADM Saurabh Bhatt. He spoke exclusively about the investigation. "Moreover, if they had permission to mine sand at Pachera, the area we raided was seven kilometers away."
The task force discovered more than just excavators. Miners had constructed an entire transportation network. They built a two-kilometer road specifically for their operation. This road connected Harampur village directly to the riverbed. It allowed trucks to reach extraction points easily.
"Apart from excavators and trucks, the miners also carved out a route to move the sand out," explained an official. "This two-kilometer long alternative road ran from Yamuna's riverbed in Harampur village till Pusta road in Jagatpur."
Immediate Actions and Broader Environmental Concerns
The task force moved quickly after their discovery. They seized three excavators involved in illegal mining. Ghaziabad authorities immediately alerted their Delhi counterparts. Mining activities halted completely following the intervention.
This raid follows repeated warnings from environmental committees. An NGT-ordered panel flagged serious violations last December. They identified particular problems in Ghaziabad's Navraspur area. Mining continued despite GRAP-3 restrictions in the National Capital Region.
The committee's report highlighted multiple environmental failures. Plantations were completely absent from mining areas. Required environmental audits never occurred. Six-monthly compliance reports remained missing. Solar lighting installations were nonexistent.
Additional violations included diesel generator operation beyond permitted capacities. Sewage management systems proved inadequate. All-weather access roads were noticeably absent from mining sites.
Ongoing Enforcement Efforts Against Illegal Mining
Ghaziabad administration data reveals consistent enforcement actions. The mining department conducted five separate drives since October last year. These operations targeted border areas including Navraspur, Pachera, and Loni tehsil.
Authorities seized multiple vehicles during these efforts. Four dumpers were confiscated. Two tractors with trolleys were impounded. One excavator was taken into custody. Police registered two FIRs at Tronica City police station specifically for illegal sand mining and transportation.
The National Green Tribunal established this special task force after reviewing media reports. A Times of India investigation initially exposed illegal sand mining along the Yamuna. The tribunal took formal cognizance of these findings. Their response created the inter-state team that conducted this weekend's successful raid.
