The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter of large scale illegal mining at Hasanpur Mafi near Tijara and Sujat ka Khola in hilly areas of Deeg (Rajasthan).
The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated 28.01.2024.
As per the news item, the authorities at Hasanpur Mafi and Deeg have registered six cases wherein illegal mining of 2,01,000 tonnes of Cheja stone have been seized. Similarly, at Sujat ka Khola, the authorities have registered seven cases and seized 2,92,170 tonnes of illegally mined masonry stone and a penalty of about Rs. 21 crores have been imposed. The news item reveals that at concerned parts of the State, illegal mining of stones is in progress and the problem appears to be very serious in nature.
Concerning the gravity of the situation, not only the penalty under the mining laws is required to be imposed but the environmental compensation is also required to be recovered for causing damage to the environment by such illegal mining, the NGT observed.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary
ii. Collector & District Magistrate, Khairthal-Tijara.
iii. Collector & District Magistrate, Deeg.
Since the matter relates to the Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal , therefore , the Bench transferred the matter to the Central Zonal Bench for appropriate further action. Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Central Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 29.04.2024.