The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a directive to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and other relevant authorities.
The directive was in response to allegations of mining activities within the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ area), a defined area of 10,400 square kilometers around the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The allegations claimed that these activities violated existing rules and orders of the Supreme Court of India in W.P. (Civil) No 653 / 1994, which had previously directed that no blasting operations are allowed within 10 km of the area.
The NGT asked the authorities to clarify several points. These included whether the area comes within the TTZ area, whether the ad hoc moratorium is applicable in the present activities, and whether the activities are small, micro, and micro-level industries.
They also needed to determine whether the activities are within the non-polluting activities or industries, whether the operations are eco-friendly, and whether the industry falls under the red, orange, or green category. The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority and Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board were specifically directed to reply to these points.
The NGT also directed a notice to be issued to the CPCB. The CPCB, MoEF&CC, and all the concerned authorities have been directed to submit their replies within three weeks. This order of the NGT, issued by the Central Zone Bench in Bhopal, is in the matter of Yadram Vs State of Rajasthan & Others.
The grievance in the application is the same as the one mentioned earlier, concerning mining activities within the TTZ area in violation of existing rules and orders of the Supreme Court of India.
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