Ahmedabad | Jul 6, 2017: The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to a sand miner and state government officials on a PIL alleging illegal mining on Sabarmati river bed near Galteshwar village where six men had drowned last year.

In their PIL, relatives of the deceased alleged that a mining lease was granted illegally and in contravention of Supreme Courts guidelines to the miner Balaji Marble.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi today issued notices to the miner as well as the commissioner of Geology and Mining, Environment Impact Assessment Authority, and Sabarkantha district collector. The notices are returnable on July 20.

The PIL said the miner was granted the lease to dredge the river bed at Galteshwar. Citing a police inquiry, it claimed the miner dredged six feet below the surface, which was in contravention of the apex court guideline. The petitioners claimed a deeper river bed caused by dredging led to the death of the six people.

The PIL contended that illegal mining was adversely affecting the natural course of the river and thus the life of people residing nearby.

The PIL attached a police inquiry report to back its claim of illegal mining.

The petitioners requested the high court to issue directions for initiating action against those responsible for the illegal mining which, as per the PIL, was the main reason behind the death of six persons last year.

The high court in April this year ordered the police to investigate the deaths and also allowed the petitioners to file a PIL against illegal sand mining.

The six men hailing from Raslod village drowned in the river during a picnic at Galteshwar, an ancient temple of Lord Shiva.

(Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/)