Court Directs Implementation of Monitoring Mechanisms to Prevent Unauthorized Mining Activities
In a landmark decision, the Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of illegal murum excavation from Defence land at village Telsara near Chakarbhatha Airport. The court initiated proceedings following alarming reports in the Dainik Bhaskar newspaper, which highlighted unauthorized mining activities and the use of excavated murum in private residential projects.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal emphasized the serious implications of such illegal activities, which not only threaten public property but also compromise national security. The court's proactive stance has led to a series of coordinated actions by the Union of India and the State Government of Chhattisgarh to address the issue.
In response to the court's directives, the Department of Mines and Minerals, Government of Chhattisgarh, has undertaken comprehensive measures, including inspections and the scrutiny of documents related to murum excavation. A joint task force comprising officials from the Mining, Police, and Revenue Departments has been established to conduct regular surveillance and prevent further illegal activities.
The court also noted the laboratory analysis conducted on murum samples collected from various sites, which indicated that the murum used in the colonies was not from the Defence land. This crucial finding supports the claims made by some developers that they sourced murum from authorized suppliers.
The High Court's intervention has led to the establishment of temporary check-posts and a permanent monitoring mechanism in and around the Chakarbhatha Airport area. These measures aim to ensure continuous vigilance and effective enforcement of statutory provisions under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
The court expressed its satisfaction with the actions taken by the authorities so far and emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance to protect Defence land. However, it also cautioned that if any future incidents of illegal mining are reported, the court will not hesitate to revive proceedings and take necessary legal action.
The suo motu Public Interest Litigation has been disposed of with the court's assurance that it will continue to monitor the situation and act decisively if needed.
Bottom line:-
Illegal excavation of murum from Defence land - Court initiated suo motu Public Interest Litigation based on newspaper reports - Comprehensive steps taken by the Union of India and State Government for prevention and monitoring of unauthorized activities on Defence land.
Statutory provision(s): Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
