Illegal mining activity went on in Bhiwani’s Dadam zone, Haryana admits before HC

Chandigarh: The Haryana govt accepted before the Punjab and Haryana high court the occurrence of illegal mining, including excavation beyond permissible limits, mining outside the leasehold area, and disappearance of the Dadam distributary at the Dadam mining zone in Bhiwani district of Haryana.
The govt also apprised the HC that a district-level task force had been constituted in all districts under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner, with SP, divisional forest officer (DFO), regional transport officer (RTO) and regional office, Haryana State Pollution Control Board HSPCB) as members.
In an affidavit submitted to the HC last month, the Haryana chief secretary informed that as per the reports of Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) based on satellite imagery from 2017 (for excavation in Dadam distributary) and from Nov 2020 and Feb 2022, the depth of excavation was exceeded in certain parts of the mining pit beyond the levels permitted as per environmental clearance and other approvals. It was also noted that in some areas adjoining the lease boundary, mining occurred outside the leasehold area.
The state also stated that on account of the excessive excavation done from Dadam distributary, pathways were created in 2017, and mining beyond the permitted depth was undertaken from Nov 2020 onwards to Feb 2022.
This information was provided to the HC in response to a plea seeking a CBI probe into the alleged illegal mining activities at the Dadam mining zone in Bhiwani. The matter reached the HC in the wake of a petition filed in 2022 by Rakesh Dalal, a local resident and activist from Bhiwani. The petitioner, who has been taking up the issue of illegal mining in the Dadam area, demanded a CBI probe, especially in view of "the collusion and connivance of the high-ranking officials of the Haryana govt with the private persons involved in illegal mining."
The state's affidavit, filed through the chief secretary of Haryana, said that considering the report of HARSAC as many as seven officers/officials of the rank of district mining officer and inspector (mining) were charge-sheeted on Jan 23 under Rule 7 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules 2016 as they are responsible for preventing illegal mining in any area under their jurisdiction.
The case was to be heard by the HC on March 3, but it could not come up for hearing, and the same has now been fixed for May 8 for further hearing.
The TOI also reported in detail about the clout of the project proponent in running the mining operations, despite a large number of committees/panels indicting the company for illegal mining in the area. The mining activities at Dadam are currently halted.
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