Faridabad mining: SC panel for stronger vigil

NEW DELHI: The SC-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in its report about mining in Faridabad has conceded the possibility of stone being illegally collected and transported by villagers in trucks/tractor trolleys/vehicles and supplied to the crusher zone. It has stressed the need to strengthen the monitoring apparatus of Haryana government, "including filling up of vacant posts in the concerned departments."
The report, however, pointed out to regeneration of vegetation and improvement of environment in general following suspension of mining activities.
The CEC went to Faridabad after the Supreme Court asked it to submit a report on an article carried in The Times of India on illegal mining around Sirohi, Alampur and Khori villages. The report says: "...because of the very nature of the terrain there are still areas which are vulnerable and from where the scattered stones can be collected clandestinely and illegally transported to the crushers."
The panel members also visited the mine pit adjoining Kot village that was mentioned in the TOI report.
"The CEC was informed that the villagers do occasionally collect sand for their bona-fide use for maintenance of the floors of their houses/cattle sheds and other miscellaneous purposes. The CEC actually witnessed such a happening in the nearby Manger Village."
The list of FIRs lodged for illegal mining/lifting of minerals from the prohibited mining area shows that since the ban, 16 FIRs have been lodged - most of which are in Anangpur, one in Dhauj and a couple in Pali. Interestingly, on January 3, 2011, CEC received a complaint against MP Avtar Singh Bhadana for clearing vegetation, illegal mining and illegal trespass.
Haryana government, though, stated that no illegal mining activity had been found on site visit but just 200-300 truckloads of ordinary clay had been spread in an area for holding a family ceremony. "Meanwhile, the forest department had booked the offence against Shri Avtar Singh Bhadana. The area in question lies in village Anantpur on the left side of the main road between Surajkund and Mehrauli. ...The forest department after taking possession of the said area (4-5 acres) planted it with trees...This area being close to Delhi is prone to encroachment particularly from the rich and the powerful because of the high value of the land. The area would perhaps have been encroached but for the timely action taken by the forest department," the CEC report stated.
TOI report had mentioned how the trenches that were dug up in the wake of the SC-imposed mining ban in February 2009 have been since filled up so that vehicles could easily ply through the abandoned Sirohi mine.
The CEC mentioned that officials of the forest and mines departments have been "advised to deepen and extend the existing trenches particularly in the vulnerable areas with a view to prevent illegal transportation...Strict vigil particularly in the areas around the crusher zone is also required so as to prevent people from illegally collecting and transporting stones from closed mines. The concerned officials were also advised to keep a close watch in areas where Badarpur sand is found to exist so that no illegal mining takes place."