NAINITAL | Dec 14, 2017: The Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday issued a notice to the state government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) while hearing a PIL on mining and stone crushing activities along Ganga in Haridwar district.

In the PIL, the petitioner has alleged that the state government, through its notifications in October and November, had allowed mining along Ganga in violation of the high court order in the case in September this year.

Ajay Veer Pundir, counsel for the petitioner, told TOI, “In its order on September 14, the court did not condone illegal mining and stone crushing activities along the river from Raiwala to Bhogpur. The state government illegally passed orders in October and November to allow mining in the region.”

In a big relief to stone crushing units in September this year, the high court recalled its earlier order which had asked the state to implement CPCB directions to shut down all stone crushing plants operating within 5km of Ganga in Haridwar district.

The court said that it was up to the government to implement the directions of CPCB. The respondents in the case were asked file their replies within three weeks. The court also clarified that it is not expressing any view with regards to the CPCB order on illegal stone crushing and mining along Ganga.

The CPCB had on December 6, 2016 ordering the closure of stone crushers within 5kms of Ganga. The petitioner has claimed that the Haridwar police is duty-bound to maintain law and order and that illegal mining mafias are not being checked and they roam around freely carrying illegal arms and ammunition.

The PIL has requested the implementation of the CPCB order to stop all illegal mining and stone crushing activities from Raiwala to Bhogpur in Haridwar.

(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)