Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 27
Just about three days after the Cabinet’s decision to allow “unregulated and unhindered mining of minor minerals by landowners and general public” came under judicial scanner, the state counsel today told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that no new mining policy had yet been finalised by the government.
Appearing before the Bench of Justice Ajay Tewari and Justice Alka Sarin, the state counsel added all the mining contracts were in position as per the existing mining policy. So far, the High Court has not issued a notice of motion on the petition.
In the petition against the state of Punjab and other respondents, petitioner Mahadev Enclave Pvt Ltd was seeking directions for quashing the decision dated September 20 taken by the government in its Cabinet meeting. Directions were also sought to place on record the decision before further quashing “subsequent consequential decision” by the state government for allowing unregulated and unhindered mining.
Appearing before the Bench, senior advocate Gurminder Singh with counsel Ramanpreet Singh Bara had described the decision as an illegal act, a political gimmickry and an election stunt. The Bench was told the elections to legislative assembly in the state of Punjab were just about two to three months away and the dispensation within the ruling party had changed. Free sand to the general public was being offered with intent to gain political mileage, even though it was legally and practically unfeasible. It was likely to cause complete chaos in minor mineral extraction and would lead to an environmental disaster. “The ruling party, with the intent to fulfil the promise mentioned by it in the last election manifesto regarding free sand to general public, is doing this all,” it was added.
The counsel argued the decision would be contrary to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, Punjab Minor Mineral Rules-2013 and Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines-2016 issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The case will now come up for further hearing on October 1 when an affidavit in the matter will be placed before the Bench.
No new mining policy finalised yet: Punjab Govt in HC on Cabinet decision
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