BY: Rashid Paul
Srinagar, Feb 21: To contain the adverse affects of mining in the state, the High Court today directed the government to submit a check-list of measures so that they are accordingly incorporated in the provisions of law for regular operation of mining activities.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on adverse affects of mining activities across the state, a division bench of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice M K Hanjura directed the concerned authorities to submit before the court a check-list by next date so that it is incorporated in the provisions of law for regular operation of mining activities in the state.
Counsel representing in the PIL submitted before the court that the authorities, particularly the Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce department and Director, Geology & Mining have ignored the objectives of supervision and inspection of the mining activities in the J&K State.
This has adversely affected the landscape of the J&K State and has caused heavy loss of lives, property, besides heavily affecting the ecology and polluting air, water and soil of the region, he said.
The court directed that a senior officer of the department of the rank of Joint Director to provide it a list of individuals and mining places which are operating in Kashmir Valley.
It also directed the officials to hold a meeting with the petitioner-counsel in this connection.
The court also directed the lawyer representing the Government of India has to hold a meeting with amicus in the case for finalizing the check-list.
The court observed that due to reckless mining activities precious lives are affected, and directed that safety gadgets and medical facility should be put in place at all the mining sites in the state.
