NGT impleads forest and environment depts in Una hill-cutting case

Kullu: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the forest and environment departments to be impleaded in a case of alleged large-scale hill-cutting in Una district of Himachal Pradesh after noticing discrepancies in environmental clearance documents submitted to it.Observing that the case raised substantial environmental questions, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi directed the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), principal chief conservator of forests, divisional forest officer, Una, and project proponents Pawan Kumar and Veena Thakur to be made respondents in the case. The impleaded parties have been directed to file their responses within a month.During the hearing of the case, the NGT noted that the environmental clearance document submitted by the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) mentioned zero non-forest land while leaving the forest land column blank despite recording a total project area of 2.0221 hectares.The tribunal also noted references to a no-objection certificate issued by the forest department, prompting further scrutiny of the project's approvals and land status.Notably, Gaurav Kumar, a local, approached the NGT last September, complaining of large-scale illegal hill-cutting near Mandwara village in the Daulatpur Chowk area of Una.He claimed the hill-cutting work was occurring just 100 metres from his house, causing dust, noise, slope destabilisation and potential threats to local water sources, agriculture and biodiversity. Gaurav requested a stay on the ongoing work and action against the violators.In a recently filed affidavit, the state govt defended the mining lease to the project proponents, maintaining that it was granted after due inspections, statutory clearances and environmental approvals.The affidavit stated that both the project proponents possessed approved mining plans and environmental clearances.According to the affidavit, the two mining leases were granted under the Himachal Pradesh Minor Minerals Rules for a period of up to 15 years or until exhaustion of the approved mineral reserves, whichever is earlier.The affidavit also stated that a joint inspection of the hill-cutting site was conducted by a team of Pollution Control Board and mining department officials on April 25 this year. The team found the hill-cutting work was being carried out under the approved plan, and no evidence of illegal mining was found on the site.The joint team also did not find "any visible signs of water pollution in the adjoining rivulet or nearby areas, and no significant issue of air pollution was observed either", the affidavit added.The next hearing in the case would be held on Aug 18.MSID:: 131634873 413 |