HSPCB to move environment court

Shiv Kumar Sharma
Tribune News Service
Yamunanagar, April 17

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) will soon file a case in the special environment court, Kurukshetra, against those involved in illegal mining in Tajewala village of Yamunanagar district.

Sources said a local team of the HSPCB had collected all relevant evidence related to the damage to the environment, including photographs of the damaged right lower downstream embankment of the Yamuna in Tajewala, huge pits dug by mining mafia close to the embankment in more than 100 acres, legal and illegal screening plants and stone crushers being run close to the embankment despite no mining being permissible in an area up to 500 m from the edge of the Yamuna embankment.

The sources further said the authorities of the HSPCB had written to the naib tehsildar of Pratap Nagar (Khizrabad) on Tuesday, requesting him to provide the details of ‘khasra’ or ‘kila’ numbers along with the name of the owner of the land in Tajewala village where illegal mining was being carried out.

“Illegal mining on a large scale has been observed at the Tajewala site, which has created pits as deep as 60 feet. It has not only endangered the embankment, but has also caused damage to the environment,” reads a report of the HSPCB, Yamunanagar, sent to the higher authorities.

Nirmal Kumar Kashyap, regional officer, HSPCB, Yamunanagar, said, “We are going to close down the operation of all 14 screening plants and a stone crusher soon. Besides, we have made preparations to file a case in the special environmental court, Kurukshetra, against the owners of the land, screening plants, stone crushers and other persons involved in illegal mining along the embankment.”

The excessive and uncontrolled illegal mining in Tajewala village has led to the possibility of breach in the embankment, damage to the Hathnikund barrage and wreaking havoc in the area.

Team collects proof about illegal mining 

A local team of the HSPCB has collected all evidence related to the damage to the environment, including photographs of the damaged right lower downstream embankment of the Yamuna in Tajewala, huge pits dug by the mining mafia close to the embankment in more than 100 acres, legal and illegal screening plants and stone crushers being run close to the embankment despite no mining being permissible in an area up to 500 m from the Yamuna banks.