CHANDIGARH: In a partial relief, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday allowed the Punjab government to carry out mining in three districts of Rupnagar, Pathankot and Fazilka.
The high court bench of chief justice RS Jha and justice Arun Palli accepted the Punjab government’s request for these three districts during the resumed hearing on a plea in which the government was claiming a shortage of construction material in the state. The order, however, will not be applicable in respect of areas along the international border.
The government had sought a stay on State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) order to Punjab passed in September and November in which the state was asked to immediately stop all mining activities at various de-silting sites in the state.
The court agreed to allow mining in these three districts after it was apprised by the state’s advocate general, Vinod Ghai, that District Survey Reports (DSRs) in respect of these three districts have been approved by SEIAA subject to environmental clearance on December 30. The development was confirmed by the state’s AG, Vinod Ghai, stating that HC has permitted mining and de-silting in these three districts, and the matter has been deferred for further hearing on January 23. “It will result in a major relief to people of the state as rates of minerals would come down. The work on completion of formalities in respect to other places was underway,” he said. Detailed order of the proceedings is awaited.