August 5, 2013
The Hindu: No sand mining without Ministry’s approval, rules Green Tribunal
India's National Green Tribunal has banned sand mining in rivers without environment clearance. The order was a response to a petition filed by ELAW partner Ritwick Dutta, reacting to the suspension of a civil servant who was overseeing a drive against illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh. In an interview with the Center for Science and the Environment, Ritwick says: "Sand is critical to maintain the ecology of a river system."