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Legal Correspondent
Shimla, August 16
Taking serious note on the issue of illegal mining at Palampur, the HP High Court today directed the state government to file a status report within one week.
While passing this order a division bench comprising the Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan also issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Secretary (Home), Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, SDM, Palampur and DSP, Palampur on this issue.
The court passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the court on a news item published in The Tribune on August 13, under the headline “Roads constructed by mining mafia dismantled”.
It was reported in the news that the SDM, Palampur had received complaints from the residents of Sulaha area that illegal mining was going on unchecked in Neugal river near Paror. This was damaging local paths, water channels, road and cremation ground.
It was further reported that the illegal mining was not only resulting in large-scale environmental degradation but also causing loss to the state exchequer as the mining material was being lifted without paying royalty to the state government.
Taking cognizance on the news report the court treated this report as Public Interest Litigation and sought response from the state authorities and listed the matter for further hearing on August 24.
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