Ranchi: The Jharkhand The High Court on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Department of Mines and Geology for failing to file an affidavit on a PIL on illegal sand mining in Jharkhand.
The Federation of Jharkhand Sand Traders Association (FJSTA) had filed a PIL before the HC against the department and the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC) in 2021, which was heard by a division bench of the principal. Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Justice Anand Sen. The court, during its last hearing in the matter on March 22, ordered both the defendants to file affidavits or face the consequences. The government failed to comply with the order, due to which the bench imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on it.
Meanwhile, JSMDC filed its affidavit informing the court that strict action is being taken against the sand mafia. Only 21 sand ghats have documents and licenses to conduct mining activities in the state. Tenders have been floated for allotment of sand mines. The tender for quarry developer-cum-operator has been floated for sand excavation and transportation from river bank to stockyard, sand loading on vehicles and transportation to buyers. The affidavit states that the technical bid has been examined and the financial bid is to be opened.
Meanwhile, advocates Vikas Pandey and Piyush Poddar of the petitioner FJSTA argued before the high court that illegal lifting of sand from the river bank was on the rise. He alleged that sand mining is taking place on a large scale without following the rules, causing huge loss in royalty to the government as well as disturbing the ecological balance.
The Federation of Jharkhand Sand Traders Association (FJSTA) had filed a PIL before the HC against the department and the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC) in 2021, which was heard by a division bench of the principal. Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Justice Anand Sen. The court, during its last hearing in the matter on March 22, ordered both the defendants to file affidavits or face the consequences. The government failed to comply with the order, due to which the bench imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on it.
Meanwhile, JSMDC filed its affidavit informing the court that strict action is being taken against the sand mafia. Only 21 sand ghats have documents and licenses to conduct mining activities in the state. Tenders have been floated for allotment of sand mines. The tender for quarry developer-cum-operator has been floated for sand excavation and transportation from river bank to stockyard, sand loading on vehicles and transportation to buyers. The affidavit states that the technical bid has been examined and the financial bid is to be opened.
Meanwhile, advocates Vikas Pandey and Piyush Poddar of the petitioner FJSTA argued before the high court that illegal lifting of sand from the river bank was on the rise. He alleged that sand mining is taking place on a large scale without following the rules, causing huge loss in royalty to the government as well as disturbing the ecological balance.