Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal mining and deforestation among others responsible for the natural calamities in Himachal Pradesh, 29/02/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of 'News Item titled "Deforestation ill-planned construction and unscientific - illegal mining behind Himachal Pradesh, monsoon catastrophe" appearing in The Hindu dated 25.11.2023' dated 29/02/2024.
One of the issue under consideration in the application is deforestation, ill-planned construction activities, illegal mining along the river beds which are few reasons responsible for natural calamity at Himachal Pradesh.
Tribunal by order, December 20, 2023 had taken note of the submission of the Advocate General that units indulging in illegal mining have also been identified and their operations have been suspended, therefore, Tribunal had flagged the issue of imposition of environmental clearance against identified violators by applying the Principle of Polluter Pays and recovery thereof as also effective steps for preventing illegal deforestation, mining.
Replies have been filed on behalf of the Department of Town and Country Planning Department, state of Himachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB). Counsel for the state sought two weeks time to go through all the replies and produce a consolidated report before the court. HPPCB also sought time to disclose the details of the violators against whom EC has been imposed.
Thus, the NGT taking into consideration the submissions, adjourned the matter to May 9, 2024.