The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Rajasthan government for regularising illegal sand mining along the Jojari-Luni-Bandi river system, observing that if the state and its officials do not mend their ways, the court will be forced to direct a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the entire matter.
A high powered committee headed by former Rajasthan high court judge, justice (retd) Sangeet Lodha, which is assisting the court in framing remedial steps to save the river systems, in a report to the court informed that during its visit to various river stretches, it observed mining operations extending over substantial lengths of the rivers and, at places, covering practically their entire width. Many of your officers will then be in hot waters. Over the past months, the court had issued a slew of orders including stoppage of industrial activities along the three rivers, strengthening the common effluent treatment plant (CETP), and ensuring no industrial waste gets directly dumped in the river. One of the industry associations linked to textile manufacturers represented by advocate Rishabh Sancheti informed the court that the state must support the industries willing to set up zero liquid discharge (ZLD) as a measure to stop chemical effluents being discharged into the river.
Taking up the response of the state to a set of directions issued by the court on September 29, the bench noted that in places where illegal sand mining along the river stretches were found by the state government, orders were issued to regularise the same by allotting leases for mining instead of acting against the offending persons and companies. Additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju representing the state said that over 600 cases of illegal mining have been registered. The order was passed in a suo motu proceeding where the court is monitoring steps to curb pollution in the river due to sewerage and industrial waste turning the rivers toxic and threatening the life of nearly 2 million people dependent on its water.
The bench told the state, “If you do not mend your ways, we will be forced to order a CBI probe. The bench told the state that it must bear the cost burden and asked ASG Raju to come up with a plan that contributes to setting up of ZLDs and pipeline infrastructure to ensure the treated water can be used by industries.
Even the high-level oversight committee headed by justice Lodha in its recommendations to the court expressed serious concern over the possible collusion of state officials. The widespread nature of such activities, notwithstanding the statutory powers available to the authorities, warrants an independent investigation into the organized networks involved, their beneficiaries, the extent of ecological damage caused and possible complicity or dereliction of duty on the part of public officials.”
It said, “The persistence of illegal mining activities at numerous locations, many of which are admittedly within the knowledge of the Mines and Geology Department, raises serious concerns regarding the efficacy of the existing enforcement mechanism.
