Illegal mining in Dadam Hills in Bhiwani: Green tribunal asks retired judge to conduct inspection

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 23

After contradictory reports on illegal mining in Dadam Hills in Bhiwani by an inspection committee and by the forest and mining departments, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has handed over the inspection to an eight-member committee under Justice Pritam Pal (retd) to find out the truth.

An area of 55.50 hectares of Dadam village in Bhiwani has been allotted for mining.

After an earlier NGT order, a six-member committee had conducted an inspection, dated October 6, 2020, which pointed out that the “mining project has illegally created ways in the forest area without having any valid permission. At the time of inspection, the mining equipment/machines were also found standing in the non-minable forest area”.

Reports of depts at variance

Bhiwani Deputy Commissioner had called a meeting on December 1, 2020, where differing stands were presented by the mining, forest and groundwater departments at variance with the findings of the site inspection report

The Dadam Hill is a protected forest area under the Indian Forest Act (IFA) 1927 and the same is found illegally mined at the time of the inspection, said the report.

There were allegations of unscientific mining too. At the time of the inspection, it was found that the mining project was using the land of Dadam distributary illegally for mining purposes.

The notice was issued to M/s Goverdhan Mines and Minerals. On November 6, 2020, Regional Officer, HSPCB, Bhiwani, recommended closure.

Later, the Deputy Commissioner, Bhiwani, called a meeting on December 1, 2020, where the scenario changed. During the meeting, differing stands were presented by the mining, forest and groundwater departments at variance with the findings in the site inspection report.

DC Bhiwani then directed the stakeholder departments to examine the presentation of the project proponent for sending a report to the Chairman, State Pollution Control Board.

Accordingly, the forest department, vide report dated December 21, 2020, and the Mining Department, vide report dated December 31, 2020, sent their observations to the DC contrary to the findings in the site inspection report dated October 6, 2020.

Based on later reports, a submission was made before the NGT that no wrongdoing was done by the present project proponent, while illegal mining had been done by their predecessor. After considering the submission, the NGT bench, headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goyal, ordered on July 20 that Justice Pritam Pal (retd)-led committee “may interact with the stakeholders and also study the satellite imagery maps”. Haryana Chief Secretary has also been asked to give action taken report in the light of the report of the committee.

“The report may also comment on the conduct of the Forest and Mining departments in giving contradictory reports and also contradictory stand of the investigating officer that no mining was done by the present project proponent,” said the order.