Jaipur, Sept. 1 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Central Zone Bench at Bhopal, has taken cognizance of allegations of illegal stone and sand mining in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu and Bhilwara districts, raising concerns over environmental damage, pollution and groundwater depletion. In Jhunjhunu, the matter concerns alleged illegal stone mining and heavy blasting near ancestral agricultural land in Sanjay Nagar village of Khetri tehsil. The case was heard on Monday by Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, Judicial Member, and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, Expert Member, in Original Application No. 192/2026 (CZ), Ravindra Singh vs State of Rajasthan and Others. The application alleges that mining is being carried out in violation of environmental norms and without requisite mining leases. Operations are allegedly being conducted at depths of 500 to 700 feet using heavy blasting. The plea also raised concerns over pollution, environmental degradation and health hazards. In Bhilwara, the tribunal took up allegations of illegal and uncontrolled sand mining in the Chandrabhaga River in Sahada tehsil. The matter was heard on Sunday in Original Application No. 188/2026 (CZ), Bhairulal vs State of Rajasthan and Others. The application alleges that sand mining is being carried out using heavy machinery and beyond prescribed limits, including near agricultural land, and without the required District Survey Report (DSR) and replenishment study. In both cases, the tribunal observed that the matters involved substantial questions relating to the environment under laws covered by the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, and directed notices to the concerned authorities. The Collector of Jhunjhunu and Collector of Bhilwara; Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board; State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Rajasthan; and Director of Mining and Geology, Government of Rajasthan, have been directed to be impleaded as respondents....