As the Uttar Pradesh Government has been getting loads of bad press for suspending IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal for cracking down sand mafia, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned mining of sand from river beds across India without prior environmental approval.

The environmental court's interim order came after the NGT Bar Association filed a petition in wake of the suspension of Ms. Nagpal, who was serving as the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Greater Noida and overseeing a drive against illegal sand mining in the Gautum Budh Nagar of state.

In the petition, the NGT Bar Association cited the cases of suspended SDM Ms. Nagpal and another person who was allegedly killed by sand mafia.

Senior advocate Raj Panjwani appeared for the petitioner and cited the impact of illegal mining on the flood plains and water levels.

The advocate also alleged that those who oppose illegal mining of sand, such as Ms. Nagpal, had been victimized.

The demand for sand has skyrocketed over the past decade, thanks to the fast-growing construction sector.

As Indian rivers have seasonal flow, the dry season provides easy access massive reservoir of sand on the river beds. Sand-mining reduces the carrying capacity of the river as the mining takes away the upper layer of the river bed. Moreover, mining sand from the banks of rivers makes the surface flat, which facilitates frequent floods, particularly in the rainy seasons.