UDAIPUR: Hearing a civil writ petition of Seemajan Kalyan Samiti Vs Union of India and others on Thursday, a divisional bench of the high court issued notices to central and state governments seeking replies on illegal mining near international borders of Rajasthan. The bench headed by Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Dinesh Mehta also sought a reply to closure of many chowkies of CID (Border Intelligence) in past years which has increased illegal activities, counterfeit currencies, infiltration and increased security hazards in the region.
The next hearing is on February 19. Besides the Union and state governments, notices have been issued to the ministry of mines, New Delhi, director general BSF, directorate of mines and geology, Udaipur, DGP-Raj and collectors of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and SriGanganagar.
The public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed by Seemajan Kalyan Samiti, a voluntary organization, working in the districts near international border. The petitioner’s counsel Sajjan Singh Rathore apprised the court that illegal mining is a huge concern, specially gypsum mining near the border area. This has now reached up to 500 metres of the fencing of the international border.
In some areas the state government is issuing permission for excavation of minerals after a kilometre from the border which may pose grave threat to national security.