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SC on disappearance of Aravalli hillocks: ‘Rajasthan mining puts Delhi residents at risk’

The extent of violations startled a bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, which exclaimed, “What is happening in Rajasthan? Humans seem to be flying away with hills just like Hanuman.”

SC on disappearance of Aravalli hillocks: ‘Rajasthan mining puts Delhi residents at risk’ Since you admit that there is illegal mining in your state, give your royalty to the people of Delhi, the court said. (Express Photo/Tashi Tobgyal/File)

Expressing shock at the disappearance of entire hillocks in Rajasthan to illegal mining, the Supreme Court Tuesday asked the state to shut down all such mining units within 48 hours. It added that this could be a reason for the rise in pollution levels in Delhi.

The extent of violations startled a bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, which exclaimed, “What is happening in Rajasthan? Humans seem to be flying away with hills just like Hanuman.”

The court made the remarks while referring to a Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, which said that over 30 of the 128 hillocks in the Aravalli range had disappeared due to mining. “15-20% hills have vanished in… Rajasthan. This is your ground truth. Who (do) you want to take for a ride?” Justice Lokur told the Rajasthan government’s counsel, adding that the state had failed to protect the Aravallis from illegal mining.

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On being told that the state was earning Rs 5,000 crore as royalty for the mining operations, the bench said it was endangering the lives of people in Delhi. In the absence of the hillocks, winds would bring the pollution from there to the national capital, it said. “For royalty, you are putting Delhi residents at risk. Since you admit that there is illegal mining in your state, give your royalty to the people of Delhi. Hospitals are overcrowded here,” it said.

The court said the state appeared to be taking the matter “very lightly”, and asked the Rajasthan chief secretary to file an affidavit showing compliance of its order in one week.

Festive offer

It also expressed dissatisfaction with the affidavit filed by the Rajasthan government in response to the FSI report.

The state, which admitted to illegal mining in over 115 hectares, contested the FSI findings and said the department had carried out the inspection without consulting local authorities.

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“It’s not proper to make wild allegations against a premier government body,” the court recorded in its order.

“We are giving you 48 hours to close these mines,” it told the state’s counsel. The next hearing is on October 29.

First uploaded on: 24-10-2018 at 00:45 IST
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