Wednesday, 17 August 2022 | PNS | Nainital
Hearing on the public interest litigation filed against mining in the Ganga river at Bhogpur in Haridwar, the Uttarakhand high court has directed the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to reply within three weeks. This direction was passed by the division bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice RC Khulbe while hearing the PIL filed by Matri Sadan. In the past, the high court had made the NMCG a party in this matter.
According to the case details, Haridwar based Matri Sadan had filed the public interest litigation stating that mining is being carried out in the Ganga between Raiwala and Bhogpur in blatant violation of the rules which is threatening the existence of the river here. The PIL further states that those carrying out the mining activities in the Ganga river are diluting the work of the NMCG. The petitioner had appealed to the high court to direct a stop on such illegal mining activity so that the Ganga river can be protected at a time when the mining is also being carried out in the Kumbh Mela area. The petitioner further pointed out that the Central government had formed the NMCG to ensure cleanliness and protection of the Ganga river. The NMCG had repeatedly directed the State government to ensure that there is no mining in the said area but the government has continued to allow mining in the area, states the petitioner.
