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Rajasthan HC order on polluting mines

JAIPUR, MAY 18. The Rajasthan High Court today allowed the State government 45 days to identify mines and quarries that were causing environmental damage and explain the action taken against officials guilty of laxity in implementing the law.

Acting suo motu and on a batch of PILs, a division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Anil Dev Singh and Mr. Justice Harbans Lal passed the order after the government said it was firm in its resolve to ensure eco-friendly mining in the State.

Appearing before the bench, Mines Secretary, Lalit K. Pawar, and Director of the Department of Mines, A.K. Saxena, sought 45 days time for an extensive campaign to identify mines and quarries causing environmental damage and to issue no-objection certificates to the non-polluting ones.

Agreeing with the court's observation that no mining activity could be allowed at the cost of the environment, the Additional Advocate-General, Bharat Vyas, reaffirmed that mining and quarrying could take place only on condition that anti-pollution norms were met.

While allowing the government 45 days to carry out an inspection of the mines and quarries, the court asked the government to explain by the next date of hearing the action taken against officials who had allowed illegal mining and quarrying in the State.

Work stopped at 20,505 mines and quarries in the State over the last two days when the government served closure notices to the mine owners.

The notices were served after the court rapped the government saying eco-friendly mining had become a mere formality and mining was taking place even when owners had not obtained the approval of the Pollution Control Board or the Environment Ministry. --UNI

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