Taking serious cognizance of the illegal mining that continues unabated in the state, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government to circulate a report prepared by an expert slamming the concerned authorities for their failure to replant or refill the abandoned mines to the offices of deputy director, district mining department and all state collectors within four weeks. These offices have been directed to ensure that as per the provisions of mining rules and under relevant laws, the mines are not abandoned, unclaimed or unattended.
A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Pramod Kode also asked the respective collectors to prepare a list of mine owners or their families or partners to find out whether they indulged in illegal activities in any of the unclaimed or abandoned mines. They were granted eight weeks to respond with the appropriate statements.
The court's stern directives remarks came while hearing a PIL filed by social worker Umesh Chaube and three others against illegal mining in Khapa forest near Nagpur. Anand Parchure and Srikant Khandalkar appeared for the petitioners.
The report was drafted by the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE, India) director CR Babu who had suggested steps to deal with the problems of unattended or abandoned mines as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code. He advised on how such mines should be replanted or filled up by the grass or shrubs to avoid further deterioration.
Babu, also a former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, was asked by the court to help the government in maintaining the ecological balance in the region as illegal mining had led to vanishing of trees and grass in the area.
Earlier, the judges rejected government pleader Nitin Sambre's argument after he pointed out defects in Babu's report. He sought more time to chalk out an action plan according to the expert's suggestions. The court observed that those who earlier operated abandoned mines might have shifted to other sites while continuing with the same activities. The respondents have been directed to look into this aspect to avoid recurrences.
During last hearing, the judges blasted the government over its miserable failure to contain illegal mining and also felling of trees. They stated in some terse words that unless and until the respondents took serious steps, it was apparent that neither illegal mining nor felling of tress could be prohibited.
The petitioners had contended that illicit felling of trees was brazenly going on for excavation work from the area earmarked as Zudpi Jungle in Mouza Mahurzari. The felling damaged the approach road. Over 22,400 trees were planted in the area by the social forestry department in 1991-92, but due to illegal mining, not a single one is left. Along with his petition, the petitioner also attached copies of TOI reports.
A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Pramod Kode also asked the respective collectors to prepare a list of mine owners or their families or partners to find out whether they indulged in illegal activities in any of the unclaimed or abandoned mines. They were granted eight weeks to respond with the appropriate statements.
The court's stern directives remarks came while hearing a PIL filed by social worker Umesh Chaube and three others against illegal mining in Khapa forest near Nagpur. Anand Parchure and Srikant Khandalkar appeared for the petitioners.
The report was drafted by the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE, India) director CR Babu who had suggested steps to deal with the problems of unattended or abandoned mines as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code. He advised on how such mines should be replanted or filled up by the grass or shrubs to avoid further deterioration.
Babu, also a former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, was asked by the court to help the government in maintaining the ecological balance in the region as illegal mining had led to vanishing of trees and grass in the area.
Earlier, the judges rejected government pleader Nitin Sambre's argument after he pointed out defects in Babu's report. He sought more time to chalk out an action plan according to the expert's suggestions. The court observed that those who earlier operated abandoned mines might have shifted to other sites while continuing with the same activities. The respondents have been directed to look into this aspect to avoid recurrences.
During last hearing, the judges blasted the government over its miserable failure to contain illegal mining and also felling of trees. They stated in some terse words that unless and until the respondents took serious steps, it was apparent that neither illegal mining nor felling of tress could be prohibited.
The petitioners had contended that illicit felling of trees was brazenly going on for excavation work from the area earmarked as Zudpi Jungle in Mouza Mahurzari. The felling damaged the approach road. Over 22,400 trees were planted in the area by the social forestry department in 1991-92, but due to illegal mining, not a single one is left. Along with his petition, the petitioner also attached copies of TOI reports.
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