Haridwar | March 16, 2015: The district administration on Monday imposed a ban on mining activities at fpur more spots on the Ganga river bed in Haridwar, following a violation of norms laid down by Union ministry of environments and forests by private contractors operating in the area.
The move comes close on the heels of an administrative ban at various other locations in the district imposed on March 13. The erring contractors will have to wait for further instructions on the matter.
According to sources, the fresh ban was necessitated due to a contempt petition filed against the district magistrate in the state high court. In it, the petitioner has said that mining within 10 km radial area of the Rajaji National Park (RNP) is not permitted. Apparently, based on a Supreme Court order passed a few years ago, banning mining within the area, the petition says clearance from the national board for wildlife (NBW) is mandatory for it. But mining is being carried out without such a clearance.
The DM admitted that an HC notice had been received in his office a few days ago and hearing in the case is slated for March 26. As all four permitted mining slots fall within the 10 km area, the administration swung into action and banned mining in Kangari, Rasoolpur, Meethiberi and Banjarawala slots in the Shyampur region across the Ganga.
Meanwhile, Satpal Maharaj, a senior Congress leader who joined BJP before the Lok Sabha polls, came down on Harish Rawat government. Taking a dig at the CM, he asked, "Why is the truthful King Harish Chandra not exposing the names?"
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)