BHOPAL : Former minister and BJP leader Kamal Patel filed a petition regarding illegal mining near Narmada river against Union of India, chief secretary of MP, secretary of MP government’s department of mining and mineral resources and 15 others on Saturday in the central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT). Patel in his petition presented before the tribunal said there were rampant illegal mining carried on by various mining firms near Narmada river in Harda and Dewas districts of the state. He further claimed the miners undertaking the illegal mining activities were violating the rules and regulations of Environment Protection Act. In the petition he also claimed that the accused mining firms which were granted environmental clearances by the department concerned did not abide by the rules and regulations, causing huge loss to the environment and state’s exchequer. Patel also said the state government, despite claiming that it would take all necessary action to stop illegal mining activities near Narmada, had done nothing. He also requested the tribunal through his petition to direct the authorities to cancel mining leases of the accused firms along with imposing exemplary fines on them for imparting irreparable damage on environment. He also requested it to direct disciplinary actions against the state officials responsible who had failed to stop illegal mining.