Uttarakhand High Court lifts mining ban within 5km of river Ganga

Nainital High Court has given relief to the State Government and Stone Crusher owners and lifted the ban on mining in the 5 km radius of Ganga river. At the same time, gave its consent to the government’s policy on mining in Uttarakhand.

While hearing a PIL filed by Haridwar resident Pawan Kumar Saini, the court on December 6 last year stopped the stone crusher from Raiwala to Bhogpur and completely stopped the mining work. On May 3 this year, the Central Pollution Control Board sent a letter to the State Chief Secretary to comply with the order, but the order was not followed by the Chief Secretary.

After this, a contempt petition has been filed at the level of Matruasadan Haridwar. On this, the court had summoned the chief secretary in a 24-hour report after adopting a tough stance. The next day, the government had filed the report of closure of all stone crushers and mining ranges from Raiwala to Jagjitpur in the High Court.

Meanwhile, the petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of the State Government and Stone Crusher owners. Advocate General SN Babulal and Chief Standing Advocate Paresh Tripathi, on behalf of the government, argued that on December 6 last year, the Central Pollution Control Board sent the report of Matrashadan and the DM’s letter forming the basis, to stop mining in the 5 km radius of Ganga Before the order was passed, the favor of the government was not heard before.

The bench of Chief Justice Justice KM Joseph and Justice Alok Singh passed the order on Thursday and ordered the government to submit the affidavit within three weeks in this case. The court also clarified in its order that this order can not be the basis for illegal mining and permission to impose illegal stone crushers.