Illegal mining in Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kutch, reserved for chinkaras, has come under the High Court's scanner. Acting on a petition, Gujarat HC has directed authorities to take "harsh preventive actions' against all those who have been illegally mining lignite from the 657.79-sq km area of the sanctuary. Gujarat government's secretary, forests and environment, has been asked to convene a meeting involving the Kutch collector, superintendent of police and environment department within 15 days for this purpose and form a committee. The committee will have to submit a status report every two months, initially for six months. The court also asked the authorities to identify illegal miners and seize their vehicles immediately. Justice Buch also observed that Supreme Court has prevented mining even within 2.5 kilometres from the sanctuary limit. The court acted on a petition by one Prag Damaji Harijan of Nanisaran village near the sanctuary. He had alleged that the only contractor in the area, Udaypalsinh Jadeja, has continued mining activity despite the end of his lease period. While other contractors were asked to stop mining by the government after the SC's direction, the lease period of Jadeja's plot was under dispute and the government allowed him to carry on mining lignite. However, Jadeja continued mining in the sanctuary's land, which falls out of the lease granted to him. The petitioner also claimed that though Jadeja was the only lease holder left, all other contractors and major cement companies continued excavating mineral through Jadeja. "About 100 trucks are seen daily carrying lignite from this prohibited area. These vehicles, along with other equipment, should be seized and actions should be taken against those participating in this activity,' the petitioner urged the court. The Kutch collector had appeared before the court on Tuesday with a map in which he showed that illegal mining takes place on a certain plot.