HC for probe into illegal limestone mining
Shillong,Feb 19: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday wanted the state government to initiate an inquiry into illegal mining of limestone in the Jaintia Hills by Amrit Cement Industries Limited.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh ordered the probe after hearing a PIL filed by Ranjit Chandra Goswami.
“At this stage before passing any substantive order, we would like to hear the respondent No.9 and other non-appearing respondents who have been directed to be served by this order. In the meantime, we direct the State to treat the petition as an informal complaint, make the necessary inquiry and file a report in this Court before the returnable date. It goes without saying that while making the inquiry, in addition to the petitioner and the appearing respondents, the respondent No.9 (Amrit Cement Industries Limited) shall also be noticed,” the court said.
The petitioner has also been asked to file a comprehensive affidavit of service on or before the returnable date.
The petitioner had alleged that Amrit Cement Industries Limited has been indulging in illegal mining of limestone in the Jaintia Hills region.œ
“On an application under the Right to Information Act made by SK Sharma, on 2nd March, 2022 the Guwahati Regional Office of the Indian Bureau of Mines under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, wrote a letter to the applicant specifying a number of companies and the extent of mining leases granted to each of them in the Jaintia Hills region, in an annexure to the letter.
According to this information, Amrit Cement Industries Limited did not have any license for mining limestone,” it said.
“It is alleged that without any license they are indulging in illegal mining of limestone which they are using in their factory to make cement. This mining activity is governed, inter alia, by Section 23C of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957, the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 and the Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of Illegal mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2022 framed thereunder.”
