NGT directs investigation into illegal mining allegations in Rajasthan

In response to a petition filed on May 24, 2023, the National Green Court (NGT) ordered a committee to investigate allegations of illegal mining activities carried out by stone crusher Maa Durga in Chadwas village, located in the state from Rajasthan.

The NGT committee, consisting of the Churu District Magistrate, members of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and the district forestry officer, was instructed to visit the site, collect relevant information on the extent of environmental damage caused and submit a full report within two months.

The petitioner accused the Maa Durga stone crusher of exceeding the permitted limits for mining operations. Despite numerous complaints filed with the authorities, no action has been taken and illegal mining activities are reported to continue. The applicant further alleges that more than 0.2 million metric tons of minerals have been illegally extracted from the sites in question.

The original application, registered under Sections 14 and 15 of the National Green Court Act 2010, was filed by Shri Kuldeep Singh Rathore, a resident of Iyara village, Tehsil Sujangadh, Churu District, Rajasthan.

The petition letter, dated September 24, 2022, raises concerns about the illegal mining activities being carried out by M/s Maa Durga Stone Crusher in Chadwas, Bidasar, Churu. The petitioner claims that the mining concession, initially granted for one hectare of land, has now extended its operations to seven hectares without proper authorization.

To address this matter, the NGT has deemed it necessary to obtain a factual statement before taking any further action. Accordingly, a Joint Committee consisting of the Churu District Magistrate, the State Pollution Control Board and the District Forestry Officer has been formed. This committee will conduct an on-site visit, assess the extent of environmental damage caused by illegal mining, and provide details of any action taken so far within two months.

The State Pollution Control Board has been designated as the nodal agency responsible for coordinating and ensuring compliance with the NGT order. The committee report should be sent to the Registrar of the Central Bank in Bhopal, preferably in a searchable PDF or OCR-compliant PDF format, rather than as a PDF image. The Registrar will then submit the matter to the Court for further action.

The records related to this case will be transferred to the Central Court in Bhopal by the Registry for further proceedings.

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