The Tribune: Yamunanagar: Friday, December 22, 2017.
The Punjab
and Haryana High Court has issued notice of motion to the Principal Secretary
in the Mines and Geology Department, Additional Chief Secretary in the Home
Department and Yamunanagar DC and SP for February 2 next in connection with
‘illegal’ mining in Gumthala Rao village of the district.
The notice
was issued on December 19 on a civil writ petition filed by an NGO, Haryana
Anti-Corruption Society, through advocate Ankit Aggarwal.
NGO members
Waryam Singh, Santosh Bhardwaj, Amarjeet Singh, Sarvjeet Singh and Ram Kumar
requested the court to direct the DC, SP and other officers concerned to ensure
restraining of mining in Gumthala Rao village for public safety and
environmental protection.
They
requested the court to order inspection of the spot by an independent agency
and mark an inquiry to expose the names of officials not taking action against
the ‘mining mafia’.
They said
after completing all formalities and paperwork, mining leaseholders had started
mining in Gumthala Rao village eight or nine months ago.
The
petitioners said as per information sought from the Mining
Officer-cum-Assistant Public Information Officer under the RTI Act, mining
could be carried out only during the day.
They said
mining around the Yamuna was allowed only up to a depth of three metres, but
contractors were flouting both rules.
They added
that they had approached local officials and the police several times to stop
‘illegal’ mining in the area, but they paid no heed to their requests.
“Only an
inquiry by an independent agency can expose the nexus by inspecting the site,”
said NGO president Waryam Singh.
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