The Supreme Court has issued notice to various states and the Centre on a PIL filed against mining in dense forests and ecologically sensitive areas of the country.
The petition has also sought framing of guidelines for dealing with forest clearance proposals to avoid clearance in dense-forested areas unless all the other available deposits of the said mineral is exhausted.
The petition has given detail examples of GO NOGO Study of Coal Blocks and Management Plan of Saranda Iron Ore Zone to demonstrate that despite there being sufficient information and reports available which classify less forested or non-ecologically sensitive areas as probable mining areas, the Union is allowing mining in every area where mineral deposits exist. As a result areas where environmental damage would be least due to mining, are not considered and 100% dense forests, which are catchment areas of important rivers, are subject to and made available for mining.
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The petition has been filed by advocate Sudiep Shrivastava.