Sikar activists seek CBI probe into ‘rampant’ unlawful mining

Kailash Meena, along with a group of activists, is fighting against illegal mining in Neem Ka Thana area of Sikar district

“Our death is certain but we will continue our struggle against illegal mining,” said Kailash Meena, sitting alongside a group of activists at a press conference here on Sunday.

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Kailash and many others are fighting against illegal mining in Neem Ka Thana area in Sikar district. About 32 gram panchayats of the area are affected by the menace, they said.

The activists also demanded a CBI probe “to expose the politician-bureaucracy-mining mafia nexus”, which they alleged had led to rampant illegal mining in the area.

“Whenever we raise the issue, a case of extortion is registered against us. Earlier the rule was 1500 metres distance (of mining activities) from the population area, which this government has reduced to 500 metres,” one of the activists claimed.

Even the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its order dated September 22 and November 12 noted that 342 mines and 81 stone crushing units were being run in an area of 42-45 sqkm, the activists said, adding that despite the tribunal’s direction, illegal mining activities had continued.

Addressing newspersons, Kavita Srivastav of PUCL said that Shankar Lal Meena, 32, a resident of village Toda under Srimadhopur assembly area of Sikar, was brutally beaten by unidentified people when he raised his voice against illegal mining. Shankar suffered multiple fractures and other injuries, she said.

The incident occurred on November 14 when he was returning to the village after submitting a memorandum to the district collector regarding illegal mining activities near his residence and the encroachment of government school playground by land mafia, she said.
A recorded conversation purportedly between the school headmaster and a former MLA was also played where the latter is heard threatening of dire consequences if the school land issue was not dropped.

Srivastav demanded immediate arrest of the assailants who attacked Shankar, and immediate action on illegal stone crushing activity in school premises.

Srivastav said on an average 20 cases were filed against every activist. Even Veer Chakra awardee former army man Jai Ram, she said, was accused of opening fire at a sarpanch. “Has the government handed Thana area to mining mafia?” she wondered.

Army man Lal Chand Yadav of Meena Ki Nangal, Sikar, said illegal blasting and mining was going on in adjoining area of his fields. “I have approached all authorities but no action has been taken... I have also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention,” said Yadav.

When contacted, Sikar district collector Laxmi Narayan Soni said, “The district administration has complied with the orders of National Green Tribunal, and actions against all illegal mines were taken. The NGT has also accepted the action taken by administration.”

He added that the administration had also cross-checked the complaints of illegal mining by activists, but they were found to be running as per the norms.