SNE NETWORK.CHANDIGARH.
The Indian Army has refused to conduct a survey regarding illegal mining in the area near the border. The Army said that the Army Survey Team does not have the capability to identify illegal mining by matching it with the revenue records. Survey resources are used for military operation planning and training. On this, the High Court has now sought a reply from the Survey of India on conducting a survey regarding illegal mining.
In this case, Chandigarh resident Gurbir Singh had filed a petition in the High Court saying that illegal mining is going on in full swing in Punjab. The Punjab government is losing revenue of about Rs 10 thousand crore every year. Along with this, rules and standards are ignored while doing illegal mining. This not only damages the environment, but also increases the fear of natural disaster.
Last year, in this case, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had told the High Court that the Ministry of Defense has issued guidelines regarding construction activities / other activities in the border areas. According to the instructions, all mining related activities within 20 km from all borders including the coastal border should be planned in consultation with the Ministry of Defense. It was told by the Central Government that the Punjab Government was asked several times by the Central Government to stop illegal mining on the border, but no concrete work was done in this direction.
BSF, Army and Central Government are also working towards stopping illegal mining and illegal activities happening in the border area through it. The High Court had then ordered the Ministry of Defense to explain how legal mining can be allowed near the border. The High Court had ordered to take a decision in this regard and inform the court. On the last hearing, the High Court had asked the Center whether the responsibility of survey regarding illegal mining can be given to the Army. The Army has now refused this. In such a situation, now the High Court has ordered the Survey of India to file a reply on mining.