The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal, in a case relating to sand mining in the Palar riverbed, has expressed satisfaction with steps taken by the State government, as well as the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), in respect of granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for sand quarrying in rivers. The bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao said the tribunal “trusts that such steps will continue to be followed…We also make it clear that while granting further sand quarrying operations after deposition of new sediments of sand as and when the government considers, the quarrying should continue by strictly implementing the conditions”. The case relates to an application filed by R. Seethapathi of Vellore district seeking a direction to stop at once all sand quarrying operations “in the entire stretch of the Palar river in order to conserve the ecology and environment in and around Palar river till the river bed is refilled with sand deposition up to the bench mark level”. The applicant also sought a direction to not use any machinery and not to quarry beyond three feet as mandated in the entire belt of Palar river in Vellore district. The bench, while appreciating the efforts taken by the SEIAA and the State government towards framing policies for scientific extraction of important minor minerals without causing damage to the environment, disposed of the petition.