Make plans to restore area ravaged by mining in Nuh: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to make plans in consultation with the Haryana Government to restore an area in the Aravalli zone of Nuh district ravaged by illegal mining.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi asked the state government to extend “due cooperation" to the apex court-appointed CEC in formulating the restoration plans.

The Bench took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, and expressed satisfaction over steps taken so far to remedy the situation.

The Bench has posted the matter after 12 weeks.

On May 29, the top court came down heavily on the Haryana Government for not taking action against mining mafia and its errant officials accused of violating forest laws and facilitating illegal transportation of stones mined from the Aravallis in Nuh to Rajasthan.

It was critical of the “evasive” affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary of Haryana.

The Bench was considering a plea related to the construction of an unauthorised 1.5-km road through the protected forest land by the mining mafia "in collusion with the state government officials" to facilitate illegal transportation of stones mined from the Aravallis in Nuh to Rajasthan.

The CEC had filed a report to this effect. “From the perusal of the affidavit (of the Chief Secretary) it is not reflected as to what actions have been taken against the erring officials and the mining mafia who are dishonestly dismantling the hills,” the CJI then said.

The Bench subsequently directed the Chief Secretary to take action against all erring officials and file an affidavit by July 16.

The CEC report, submitted to the apex court on April 15, flagged serious breaches of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, citing environmental degradation, destruction of wildlife habitat, and administrative inaction.

The road, according to the report, was built using heavy machinery without legal clearances, slicing through notified forest and agricultural land. The report hinted at a possible collusion with local "political actors" and mining mafias.