Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the Punjab govt to make its submissions and objections regarding the proposal to conduct a survey regarding illegal mining in its border areas from the Survey of India by Dec 2.
“This court is of the prima facie view that in view of the revelation made by the affidavit of Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF) authorities who expressed their inability to conduct the survey for tracing out the illegal mining and the counsel appearing on behalf of Punjab having objected to the proposal of this court that an independent survey should be conducted by Survey of India, this court deems it appropriate to afford an opportunity to Punjab to make its submissions and objections,” the HC has observed in its order released on Wednesday.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal has passed the orders on a petition filed by Gurbir Singh Pannu seeking directions to ensure a mining auction in a transparent manner.
In Sept, the central government had made it clear that the Army survey resources were committed on operational matters and cannot be assigned to detect illegal mining along the Punjab-Pakistan border. The Centre had emphasised that diversion of the resources for military survey for illegal mining will create an undesirable void.
It was also claimed that the issue of illegal mining is law and other subjects and as such beyond the purview of the Indian Army. After this reply, the HC had asked if the survey can be conducted through the Survey of India.
On the previous date of hearing, the HC had restrained the Punjab govt from carrying out any kinds of mining activities in the border districts.
Earlier, the Army had claimed that rampant mining activities in the border districts of Punjab was also a serious threat to its defensive military fortification, as it would affect the structural integrity/strength of the bunkers in the proximity..