Ghaziabad mining dispute: NGT points out deficiencies in investigation
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, on Thursday issued directions in a case involving alleged illegal mining activities in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
The Tribunal directed the District Task Force, Ghaziabad, to conduct a detailed inspection of the site and submit a report detailing whether illegal mining has occurred at the lease site. The report will include details of the locations where mining is taking place in the district and the mining pits (size, origin, and responsibility).
The Tribunal stated that it had previously banned mining activities at the site on January 29, 2026. This order was challenged in the Supreme Court, but the appeal was dismissed on February 26, 2026, allowing the NGT’s proceedings to continue.
The NGT also raised serious concerns about the fairness of the police investigation, particularly the registration of an FIR against “unknown persons” despite mining occurring in the lease area, and the lack of clarity on who created the mining pit and whether mining was permitted. The court directed the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner to file a detailed affidavit detailing the progress of the investigation, the identities of those involved, and the details of the JCB owner and driver. The next hearing in the case will be on April 9, 2026.
