In Brief
The Department of Mines & Geology, Punjab sought environmental clearance for sand mining in a 12.96-hectare area near the Sutlej River. After clearance was granted and the department sought to transfer it to auction bidders, authorities discovered that the actual site location differed materially from the application: many parcels lay in active streams or agricultural land rather than the river bed, contradicting representations made. The authority revoked the clearance. The National Green Tribunal upheld the revocation based on joint inspection reports confirming the discrepancy. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that material misrepresentation between application and ground reality justified revocation, but permitted the department to reapply with accurate information.
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