There will be a thorough investigation of the construction of embankment on Yamuna river, Supreme Court's strict instructions to CEC:

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Supreme Court has asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to examine issues raised in a petition alleging that embankment was constructed across Yamuna river near Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana's Yamunanagar to facilitate mining activity.

The CEC was constituted as per the Supreme Court order of May 2002 to monitor the implementation of the Court's directions regarding removal of encroachments, implementation of action plans, tree plantation and other conservation issues.

The case for building embankments on the Yamuna

This case of construction of embankment on Yamuna came up for hearing before the bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih.

Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, appearing for the applicant, told the bench that an embankment was constructed on the river near the wildlife sanctuary, as a result of which the flow of the river was diverted from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh.

They claimed that this was done to facilitate unregulated mining activity. "Therefore, we find that it would be appropriate that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) examine the issues and submit its report," the bench said in its order passed on April 29.

The Supreme Court asked the counsel for the applicant to also give a copy of the application to the lawyers of the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh so that they can give their comments on the arguments made in the petition. The bench will now hear the case next in the last week of May.