The Gauhati High Court recently disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by residents of Cachar district in Assam over the environmental damage caused by the operation of a minor mineral lease in the Chiri river area.
They alleged that the respondent, who had been granted the lease, was plying trucks and other vehicles through the river stream, causing damage to the river’s ecosystem.
Additionally, the petitioners had also raised concerns about a stone crusher unit owned by another respondent, which was allegedly releasing untreated effluents into the Chiri river.
However, the court noted that the lease period for which the lease was granted to the respondent had already expired, and the state government had stated in its affidavit that no mineral lease was currently in operation in the Chiri river mineral concession area.
Regarding the allegations against the stone crusher unit, the court observed that the petitioners had not provided concrete evidence to support their claims.
Although the petitioners had filed a rejoinder with photographs allegedly showing illegal mining activities in the Chiri river area, the court found it difficult to ascertain from the photographs that such activities were indeed taking place.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam ultimately disposed of the PIL petition, observing that if the petitioners had evidence of illegal mining activities, they were free to submit a representation to the concerned authorities, who would consider the matter objectively and take effective measures to stop any such activities.
With this, the court also disposed of the pending interlocutory applications in the matter.