Uttarakhand HC hears PIL on illegal Ganga mining

Nainital, June 19 (PTI) — The Uttarakhand High Court was apprised that while the 27 Infantry Battalion, ECO, Garhwal Rifles supports environmental protection and water conservation efforts, it lacks the jurisdiction to take legal action against illegal mining activities threatening the Ganga. This clarification was provided by the battalion's legal cell, a unit of the Territorial Army, before a division bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani and Justice Pankaj Purohit on June 18.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning illegal mining in the Ganges stretch between Raiwala and Bhogpur, where unauthorized quarrying poses a threat to the river.

Earlier, the high court had queried whether the battalion could aid in halting illegal mining in the area. Captain Raghav from the army's Garhwal region legal cell had appeared via video-conferencing, promising to return to the court with a response. However, on Wednesday, it was revealed that while the battalion is committed to environmental protection and water conservation, taking action against illegal mining falls outside its remit.

A senior officer from the battalion is expected to deliver a detailed briefing to the court through a formal presentation during the next PIL hearing scheduled for June 23.

The PIL, filed by Matri Sadan, an ashram engaged in environmental conservation, along with others, alleges rampant unlawful mining in violation of regulations, threatening the Ganga's existence. The petitioners have requested a ban on these illegal mining activities. They highlighted that, despite the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Board's establishment by the Centre, focusing on cleaning and preserving the Ganga, as well as its repeated directives to the state government to halt mining, these activities persist.

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