The Punjab and Haryana High Court has slammed illegal stone mining in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri district, calling it a “blatant violation of environment norms” and “loot and plunder of natural resources”.
The court noted that the mining site in Pichopa Kalan lies within the ecologically sensitive Aravalli hills, which are crucial for environmental balance in the region.
On Saturday, a Division Bench of Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Rohit Kapoor expressed concern over indiscriminate mining beyond the approved 11-hectare area at Khasra Nos. 109 and 110, Indian Express reported.
The court said the activity has “much wider ramifications for preservation of ecology and environment as well as for the larger public interest”.
The case arose after local residents and a stone crusher operator alleged that the private lessee, Jai Dada Dohla Stone Mines, had caused massive ecological destruction, with “hillocks completely disappearing” from the site.
The court’s interim order followed a report by Advocate Kanwal Goyal, appointed as local commissioner, who confirmed that mining had extended far beyond permitted boundaries. A deep central pit, filled with rainwater, was found to be 47 metres deep. Environmental safeguards, including year-wise plantation of trees, green belt development, and bench formation, were reportedly ignored.
The judges criticised the state authorities for apparent negligence and possible collusion, noting that prior warnings and recommendations to terminate the lease had been ignored.
“What is seen with the naked eye is not only disturbing but is also bewildering. It prima facie appears to be a case of blatant violation of environmental norms contained in the Environmental Clearance Certificate as well as the mining plan, causing loot and plunder of natural resources,” the court observed.
The court has directed Haryana’s chief secretary to file a personal affidavit explaining how the state will address the environmental damage and fix responsibility. It also asked the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to suggest remedial measures, and ordered the Charkhi Dadri deputy commissioner to seal the mining area within 48 hours.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 25 and warned that an independent agency may be involved if the state’s response is inadequate.
