Uttarakhand high court has directed the Central Groundwater and GST departments to submit their reports on unauthorised limestone mining that allegedly caused cracks in homes, farmlands and water pipelines in Bageshwar by Monday. The order was passed on April 15, when a division bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and justice Alok Mahra was hearing public interest litigation on complaints from residents of Kanda tehsil. The next hearing is scheduled for April 21.
The petitioners told the court that repeated representations to higher authorities in the matter had failed. In a letter to the Chief Justice, they wrote that illegal limestone mining had disrupted their lives and “damaged our farms, homes and water pipelines.” They added, “Those who could afford to move have gone to Haldwani and other towns. Only the poor remain in these villages, and now even our livelihoods are being taken away.”
During the hearing, the income tax department submitted a sealed envelope with mining records, which are yet to be opened and examined by the court. The court maintained its stay on mining activities in several Bageshwar villages, including Kanda. It also noted allegations that the miners had concealed their income and evaded GST and sought reports on the issue.
Meanwhile, the miners told the court their leases were nearing expiry and requested that the ban be lifted. They also asked for the release of soft stone that had been sealed under the prohibition. They said they were under pressure due to loans and were getting repeated notices from banks. “We are already burdened by loans. Without access to our sealed material, we cannot repay the banks,” they said.
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court has directed the Central Groundwater and GST departments to submit their reports on unauthorised limestone mining that allegedly caused cracks in homes, farmlands and water pipelines in Bageshwar by Monday. The order was passed on April 15, when a division bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and justice Alok Mahra was hearing public interest litigation on complaints from residents of Kanda tehsil. The next hearing is scheduled for April 21.
The petitioners told the court that repeated representations to higher authorities in the matter had failed. In a letter to the Chief Justice, they wrote that illegal limestone mining had disrupted their lives and “damaged our farms, homes and water pipelines.” They added, “Those who could afford to move have gone to Haldwani and other towns. Only the poor remain in these villages, and now even our livelihoods are being taken away.”
During the hearing, the income tax department submitted a sealed envelope with mining records, which are yet to be opened and examined by the court. The court maintained its stay on mining activities in several Bageshwar villages, including Kanda. It also noted allegations that the miners had concealed their income and evaded GST and sought reports on the issue.
Meanwhile, the miners told the court their leases were nearing expiry and requested that the ban be lifted. They also asked for the release of soft stone that had been sealed under the prohibition. They said they were under pressure due to loans and were getting repeated notices from banks. “We are already burdened by loans. Without access to our sealed material, we cannot repay the banks,” they said.
Source #TOI
