JAIPUR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has come down heavily on the issue of rampant illegal and unauthorized mining at Parbabar in Nagaur district.
Holding the officials accountable, the principal bench of the tribunal with Justice Swatanter Kumar as the chairperson, has directed state government, Rajasthan, that action should be taken against all erring officers who were posted in that area and permitted to carry on illegal and unauthorized mining.
However, on the flip side, recently the mining mafia in a scuffle with the officials had bashed up the local SDM and his staff and in another incident held the forest department officials captive when they tried to intervene and stop illegal mining operations. While locals claim that illegal mining under the patronage of local politicians and corrupt officials is ruining the basin of river Luni, the state government has taken stand that they have not issued any mining lease to any person for that particular area.
The NGT in its recent order has directed that departmental proceedings against all the erring officers and officials be initiated within six months from October 27, 2017 without delay and default. Besides, this, the officials/officers have been penalized with environmental compensation to the extent of Rs 50,000 which shall be recovered from the salary of the erring officials in monthly installments.
Add to that, the state mining department and the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has been directed to recover a sum of Rs one lakh from each of the person who were found to be responsible for carrying on illegal and unauthorized mining in this area. Recovery shall be made in accordance with law within four weeks from October end. In the event of default thereto the same shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue. "This is a landmark judgment that holds officials meant to keep a vigil, responsible for illegal mining in village Khanpura. About 15 officials from the mining and forest department are involved in this. The six people identified after the FIR and penalized for illegal mining, ironically were all laborers," said Vikram Taperwada legal counsel and an environmentalist.
Further the amount recovered from the officials and private parties would be utilized for restoration of the hill and trees in that area within the stipulated time and a compliance report in this regard would have to be submitted to the NGT through secretary, mining department.
Holding the officials accountable, the principal bench of the tribunal with Justice Swatanter Kumar as the chairperson, has directed state government, Rajasthan, that action should be taken against all erring officers who were posted in that area and permitted to carry on illegal and unauthorized mining.
However, on the flip side, recently the mining mafia in a scuffle with the officials had bashed up the local SDM and his staff and in another incident held the forest department officials captive when they tried to intervene and stop illegal mining operations. While locals claim that illegal mining under the patronage of local politicians and corrupt officials is ruining the basin of river Luni, the state government has taken stand that they have not issued any mining lease to any person for that particular area.
The NGT in its recent order has directed that departmental proceedings against all the erring officers and officials be initiated within six months from October 27, 2017 without delay and default. Besides, this, the officials/officers have been penalized with environmental compensation to the extent of Rs 50,000 which shall be recovered from the salary of the erring officials in monthly installments.
Add to that, the state mining department and the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has been directed to recover a sum of Rs one lakh from each of the person who were found to be responsible for carrying on illegal and unauthorized mining in this area. Recovery shall be made in accordance with law within four weeks from October end. In the event of default thereto the same shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue. "This is a landmark judgment that holds officials meant to keep a vigil, responsible for illegal mining in village Khanpura. About 15 officials from the mining and forest department are involved in this. The six people identified after the FIR and penalized for illegal mining, ironically were all laborers," said Vikram Taperwada legal counsel and an environmentalist.
Further the amount recovered from the officials and private parties would be utilized for restoration of the hill and trees in that area within the stipulated time and a compliance report in this regard would have to be submitted to the NGT through secretary, mining department.
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