SC orders Rajasthan govt to appoint nodal officer to combat illegal mining near Sariska Tiger Reserve

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Rajasthan Government to appoint a nodal officer in Alwar district to entertain complaints regarding illegal mining within one km of Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Upon the receipt of a complaint, the nodal officer would take a decision within two weeks, a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said.

The order came on petitions alleging illegal mining activities within one km of the tiger reserve despite the top court’s order banning such activities.

The state government denied the allegations and said inspections were conducted by the authorities to prevent any such unauthorised activity.

Senior advocate K Parameshwar, assisting the bench as an amicus curia, said the state appointing a nodal officer would be a better way to deal with the grievances.

The court disposed of the plea and said if such a grievance was not entertained, the aggrieved person could approach the jurisdictional high court.

The applicants’ counsel said the court’s directions on the ban were being flouted.

“They can’t do anything that can have an adverse effect on the critical tiger habitat without our permission,” the court said.

The bench had in May last year said the continuance of any mining activity within the one-km radius of the boundaries of critical tiger habitat of the reserve would be in contempt of its April 2023 order.

“In our judgment dated April 26, 2023 further affirmed vide order dated April 28, 2023, we have prohibited mining activities within a radius of one-km from all protected areas. At the cost of repetition, the protected areas would not only mean the wildlife sanctuaries/national parks but also the critical tiger habitat,” the court said on May 15 last year.