Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal mining in District Rupnagar, Punjab, 31/01/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Dinesh Kumar Chadha Vs State of Punjab & Others dated 31/01/2019 regarding illegal mining in District Rupnagar, Punjab. A report submitted by a Joint Committee of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Director Mining, State of Punjab and the Punjab State Pollution Control Board (PSPCB) refers to the status of illegal mining in Villages Harshabela, Swarha and Baihara. The Joint Committee has found that mining was taking place beyond the permitted depth and mine lease area not demarcated among others.
NGT directs the State of Punjab and the relevant authorities to prohibit the mining activities within the river bed, stop illegal extraction and transportation of river bed material, recover compensation for violations and take action against the vehicles used. Also the Tribunal asked the Committee to make an assessment of the damages to be recovered and damages should include not only the cost of the illegally mined material but also for damage to the environment and for deterrent affect and for the cost of the ecological services forgone forever.