Nagpal Yet To File Her Response To Chargesheet While suspended civil servant Durga Sakthi Nagpal maintained a stoic silence on the ninth day after being chargesheeted by the Uttar Pradesh government, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was vocal in defending the government for taking action against illegal mining every time a complaint was received. “Whenever we have received complaints, action has been taken,” Akhilesh said, on the sidelines of a book launch event in the state capital. The chief minister also said that the Samajwadi Party government had approved the e-tendering mechanism for issuing licences for mining in a bid to promote transparency. The government had also, Akhilesh said, taken all possible measures to ensure work was done in keeping with the laid down procedures. Clarifying the government’s stand on illegal mining, Akhilesh also said mining was not possible without obtaining a no-objection certificate from the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) and that the government would initiate action if it receives reports of individuals or groups flouting the orders. Contrary to the chief minister’s claims, however, a three-member inquiry committee set up by MoEF said instances of illegal mining were “rampant” in GB Nagar. Referring to the dredging activity being carried out in Yamuna and Hindon rivers, the committee also said the process was “unscientific and illegal" across different locations in Gautam Budh Nagar. Meanwhile, Nagpal, with five days remaining for her to turn in her response to the charges, did not make a written representation even on Monday. On July 27, the government had placed her under suspension on charges that her act of demolishing the walls of a mosque could have inflamed communal tensions in Kadalpur area of GB Nagar. Despite the government’s claims, the DM’s report, a missive by the local intelligence unit and a compliance report by the tehsildar had subsequently refuted the government’s claims. She was served a charge sheet on August 4 and asked to submit her response in 15 days. Once Nagpal submits her response, the state government will have oneweek time to send its comments, along with the officer’s clarifications, to the Centre. Sources in the government said Nagpal was likely to seek legal advice in drafting her response to the state government. In fact, on Monday, more mining trouble surfaced against the SP government, this time from Mirzapur district. According to reports, despite being caught red handed and being turned in to the police on charges of illegal mining, the accused persons were let off on flimsy charges.