Source:greaterkashmir.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The High Court on Monday sought to know about the steps the \ngovernment has taken to implement the statutory provisions as well as \nthe rules and regulations of mining in Jammu and Kashmir. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation petition filed by Peoples\u2019 Forum, a non-governmental organisation, through senior advocate M I Qadri, division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rashid Ali Dar also sought to know about the environmental degradation and the adverse impact on the ecology due to illegal mining and measures to ensure the safety and security of the workers in the mines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeking his personal appearance on August 28, the court directed the Commissioner Secretary to Government, Industries and Commerce Department to remain present in person and inform the court about the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Observing that the PIL raises serious matters and\nimplementation of various Acts governing the mining, the court said it has been\nnoticed that the mine owners have failed to ensure the safety and protection of\nthe labourers employed for mining activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court said the authorities concerned were unable to inform it about the measures in place to ensure the safety and security of the workers in the mines as well as the compliances with the statute, rules and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no clarity even on the issues as to what are the\nresponsibilities of the Centre and the State authorities\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
None of the reports filed on record, the court said,\ndiscloses any steps taken towards ensuring the compliances of the statutory\nprovisions, the rules and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Underscoring that the petition raises concern of\nenvironmental degradation and adverse impact on the ecology, landscape and the\nhabitation because of the indiscriminate illegal mining activity, the court\nsaid the matter is of very serious concern as is manifested from the several of\nits orders passed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The court asked the Commissioner-Secretary to Government,\nIndustries and Commerce Department to examine the matters raised in the writ petition\nas well as several orders passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The court directed the officer to delineate responsibility\nof the Central and the State Government, the measures required to be undertaken\nto ensure strict compliance of the statutory provisions of mining as well as\nthe rules and the regulations. It said the authorities who are responsible for\nthe same should take steps to ensure the enforcement.<\/p>\n