After wrestlers row, probe against BJP MP Brij Bhushan over illegal mining

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 03, 2023: Gonda MP and outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is facing fresh legal trouble with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordering a probe into allegations of "damage to River Saryu" due to illegal sand mining and transportation of minerals by his company in Gonda.

 

The Principal bench of the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday constituted a Joint Committee comprising the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), and the District Magistrate of Gonda. The Committee has been directed to meet within one week.

Brij Bhushan Singh is in the eye of a legal and political storm over sexual harassment allegations by women wrestlers and the elections to the Wrestling Federation of India.

"The Committee may particularly clarify compliance with Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, and Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020, including remediation/rehabilitation of mined areas and damage caused to River Saryu. The State PCB will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance," directed the court.

The directions have been passed on a letter received by the NGT by post. The NGT has taken cognisance of the allegations raised in the letter. The Principal Bench of the NGT at Delhi, consisting of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr. A Senthil Vel, passed the direction in its order on August 2.

Illegal mining, sale of minerals

"The grievances in the present application are regarding illegal mining by Mr. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Member of Parliament from Kesar Ganj, in villages Majharath, Jaitpur, Nawabganj, Tehsil Tarbganj, District Gonda, illegal transportation of the extracted minor minerals by overloaded trucks numbering more than 700 every day, storage, and illegal sale of minor minerals measuring about 20 lakh cubic meters and damage caused to Patpar Ganj Bridge and Road by overloaded trucks," noted the National Green Tribunal order.

The Joint committee is expected to undertake a site visit, interact with the person who sent the petition, as well as the "project proponent," i.e., Brij Bhushan Singh’s company. It is also expected to verify the factual position and take appropriate remedial action by following due course of law and giving an opportunity of being heard to the project proponent, according to the order.

"A factual and action taken report may be submitted within two months," the court has directed.

The MP has previously faced over 38 criminal cases, including a charge of attempted murder, rioting, connections with the land mafia, and other serious charges, but had been acquitted, according to the affidavit filed by him before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Courtesy: India Today