Illegal sand mining: SC suspends NGT order asking AP to deposit Rs 100 Cr with CPCB

In a relief to the Andhra Pradesh government, the Supreme Court has suspended the NGT order directing the state to deposit Rs 100 crores with the CPCB for inaction to prevent illegal sand mining.

In the interest of natural justice, the apex court allowed the state government to place its perspective before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with regard to illegal sand mining.

The Andhra Pradesh government has claimed that it was not granted an opportunity to be heard by the green tribunal before the order for depositing Rs 100 crore with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was passed.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta in its recent order said that it is permitting Andhra Pradesh to move an appropriate application before the NGT within two weeks.

"Until the NGT takes a decision, the direction for the interim deposit of Rupees One hundred crores shall remain suspended. We clarify that we have only suspended the direction of the NGT to the above extent. We have not ..