Taking strong note of rampant illegal mining in Haryana's Sonipat district, the National Green Tribunal has directed authorities to inspect the sites, seize machines such as JCBs and take strict action against violators.
A bench of Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore directed the district magistrate of Sonipat to personally look into the matter and inspect the mining sites on the Yamuna river bed.
The green panel said it was "shocked" to see the state of affairs and the manner in which mines were being operated.
"We direct the Collector, Sonipat, to personally look into the matter and visit the mining sites on the river bed so as to have first hand information and thereafter pass necessary instructions to the concerning officers, including those of the Mining Department and Police Department," the bench said.
The Superintendent of Police, Sonipat, was directed to visit the mining sites, at least twice a week, and pass appropriate orders to the SHO concerned who had to keep daily vigil and post adequate forces in the area, it said.
"SHO shall himself visit the site daily. It is made clear that if any complaint is received by the tribunal, which prime-facie satisfies that mechanised mining in the river bed is being done by any person, then the Station House Officer of Police Stations Rai, Murthal and Gannaur, District Sonipat, shall be personally answerable and liable for the consequences," the bench said.
The directions came after it perused a report filed by advocate Abhishek Atrey who was appointed the court commissioner in the case.
According to the report, a fleet of trucks, JCBs (mechanical excavators) and other mining equipment were found on the sites.
"In the light of the information given by the court commissioner, it is clear that the persons at the mining site had moved away only at the time when the court commissioner went. At the site, everything appeared to be functioning. The court commissioner informs (us) that when he visited a site a number of local villagers had met him, giving their full identity, and complained to him, so much so that all these mines are using heavy machineries and are in operation 247," it said.
It pointed out in a specific order passed by the tribunal on December 23, 2015, mechanised mining had been strictly prohibited.
"(But) the same has been grossly breached by mine owners in Sonipat district. The very fact that a large number of heavy machines and trucks were found at the stock site, which is close by to the mining site, shows that machines are being used for the purpose of mining," the bench said.
The tribunal asked the Superintendent of Police to submit a weekly report on the status of the mining and if he found that machineries such as trucks and JCBs were used then he "shall immediately take appropriate action against the defaulters in accordance with the law".
The matter is posted for a hearing on May 24.
The green panel was hearing a plea filed by Kumar, a Haryana resident, who had sought action against illegal and unauthorised mining of minerals including gravel and sand in the district.
The plea said despite stringent conditions being imposed, mining of sand and minor minerals on the river bed was being done by using heavy machinery contrary to the terms and conditions of an environmental clearance.
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