National Green Tribunal, Central Bench: In a petition raising concerns about illegal mining activities occurring in Khasra No. 80, situated in the Arawali region, within the jurisdiction of Village Ballupura, Gram Panchayat Khora, Dantaramgrah Tehsil, Sikar District, Rajasthan, a division bench comprising of Sheo Kumar Singh, J., (Judicial Member) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), considering the gravity of the environmental issue, constituted a Joint Committee comprising, one representative from the District Magistrate, Sikar (Rajasthan) and one representative from the State Pollution Control Board, Rajasthan and tasked them to visit the site and submit a factual report on the matter within six weeks.
The NGT noted that the petitioner asserted that mining in the Arawali Hills region has been expressly prohibited by the Supreme Court of India and despite the prohibition, certain influential individuals persist in engaging in mining operations, thus violating environmental regulations and the orders of the Supreme Court. The NGT deemed it appropriate to implead the State of Rajasthan through its District Magistrate, the Member Secretary of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, the Mining Officer of Sikar, and the individuals engaged in illegal mining and transportation as respondents in the case. The NGT —
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Issued notice to the respondents, returnable within four weeks and directed the registry to ensure service to the respondents through multiple channels, including email.
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Instructed the respondents to submit their replies within six weeks through the e-filing portal, preferably in a searchable PDF format.
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Constituted a Joint Committee, comprising one representative each from the District Magistrate of Sikar and the State Pollution Control Board of Rajasthan and tasked the Committee to visit the site of the alleged illegal mining and submit a factual report within six weeks. The State PCB will coordinate logistical support for the Committee.
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Directed the petitioner to provide necessary documents and a copy of the application to the Committee and respondents within one week of compliance with service requirements.
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Listed the next date of hearing on 24-07-2024.
[Moti Singh Shekhawat v. State of Rajasthan, 2024 SCC OnLine NGT 428, order dated 24-05-2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
Mr. Moti Singh Shekhawat — in person, Counsel for the Appellant
None, Counsel for the Respondents
