National Green Tribunal
Megh Singh & Ors vs State Of Rajasthan on 22 April, 2022
Item No.2 (Court No. 2)
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH
(By Video Conferencing)
Original Application No. 209/2022
Megh Singh & Ors. Applicant (s)
Versus
State of Rajasthan Respondent
Date of hearing: 22.04.2022
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER
Application is registered based on a complaint received by E-mail
ORDER
1. The applicant is, by sending the present letter petition to this Tribunal, seeking protection of the remaining part of Randhisar Pahari, Tehsil - Sujangadh, District- Churu, Rajasthan. It is stated that above said Pahari, being part of Arawali Range, was providing environmental cover to the area of 10 village panchayats for retaining monsoon ensuring rainfall. The above said Pahari is at the verge of extinction due to Illegal mining. Surrounding 8-10 hillocks have already disappeared due to unsustainable mining. It is further stated that the mining agreement for the period of 10 years permitting mining in the area had expired on 15.10.2009 and due to objection by the Forest Department, mining in the area was stopped by the Mining Department. Thereafter, the Mining Mafia succeeded in getting the 20 years mining leases w.e.f 20.06.2011. It is complained that the lessees have carried out the mining in utter violation of the lease conditions. Mining has been done so 1 unscientifically by straight cutting Randhisar Pahari to the depth of 250- 500 feet that remaining part of Randhisar Pahari may fall at any time causing such human disaster as occurred in Maharangarh Durg Jodhpur stampede and Bhopal Gas leakage. Illegal and excessive unsustainable mining is destroying ecology of Randhisar Pahari, a part of Arawali range, endangering the lives of inhabitants and future generations. The applicant has given the list of firms/persons carrying on mining activities and list of stone crushers operating in the area and also enclosed photographs of alleged illegal mining.
2. In view of the serious allegations made in the letter Petition, we are of the considered view that it would be appropriate to have a factual and action taken report in the matter. Accordingly, we constitute a Joint Committee comprising of Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional Office, MoEFF & CC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh representative of State PCB, Director, Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Rajasthan, and District Magistrate, Churu District. The State PCB will be the Nodal agency for coordination and compliance. The Joint Committee may meet within four weeks, undertake site visits, look into the grievances of the applicants and take requisite action by following due process of law. Factual and action taken report may be furnished within two months by e-mail at [email protected] preferably in the form of searchable PDF/OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.
List the matter for consideration on 14/07/2022. A copy of this order, along with a copy of the complaint, be forwarded to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional Office, MoEFF & CC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, State PCB, Director, Department of Mines 2 and Geology, Government of Rajasthan, and District Magistrate, Churu District by e-mail for compliance.
Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM April 22, 2022 Original Application No. 209/2022 AG 3