Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 6: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for cancellation of mining lease from Ravi river, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan today granted three weeks time to the State for filing response.
The PIL has been filed by a social activist Ankur Sharma seeking direction to respondents for cancelling the mining lease/quarrying permit for River Ravi issued under J&K Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1962, and also seeking direction for restraining the Government from issuing any Mining Lease/Quarrying Permit for River Ravi till the river and its attending environment are restored to sustainable levels.
He has also prayed for appointment of a committee of experts functioning under the direct supervision of this court to study and submit a comprehensive report about the effects and scope of mining in River Ravi and based upon this committee’s report, restrain the Government from issuing any further Mining Lease/ Quarrying License for River Ravi.
The petitioner has also sought direction to respondents to cancel the Consent Orders issued to the stone crushers operating in River Ravi under Sections 25 and 26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
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