Raj HC directs mines department to probe and stop illegal mining on Jaipur outskirts

JAIPUR: A division bench of Rajasthan High Court in Jaipur has directed the mines department to form a team to investigate illegal mining in Ghata village area of Bassi Tehsil near Jaipur.

The direction came after the bench heard a PIL filed by a local resident, Deepak Kumar Jangid. The court ordered that the team should probe the allegations and submit a report within two months.

If illegal mining is found, necessary action should be taken to stop it. The order was given by the division bench of Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Shubha Mehta.

According to petitioner’s advocate Sanjay Bharti, illegal mining has been taking place on Kasara number 241 and 242 in Ghata village of Bassi Tehsil near Jaipur for many years.

In the order, the court stated, “in view of the statement made on affidavit that without allotment of mining lease to any person, illegal mining is going on the land recorded in the revenue record as  gair mumkin pahar (uncultivable wasteland) and pasture land.

“Despite representation sent to the Director, Mines Department in September, no action was taken so we are inclined to direct the Director, Mines Department, Rajasthan to cause an enquiry to be made by constituting a team under the relevant mining officer of the concerned area.

The enquiry shall be made and report shall be submitted to the Director Mines Department within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order.

Thereafter, the director mine department take necessary step in case the allegations of illegal mining are found correct,” the court stated.

The court disposed of the petition with liberty to the petitioner to revive it in case despite illegal mining having been found, action is not being taken.

The petitioner’s advocate Sanjay Bharti said that the problem of illegal mining is not limited to Ghata, but in many villages of Bassi and Kanota area. Over 12 people have lost their lives due to unrestricted illegal stone mining in villages situated on Aravalli range.

The petitioner accused both police and mining departments of being aware but not taking concrete actions against illegal mining which has been ongoing for 40 years.

In these areas alone, there are more than 150 instances of illegal mines operating causing loss of life and significant environmental damage.

Most victims are laborers who either die during mining or incidents involving cave-ins or falling stones.