Chandigarh, Feb 2: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed grave concern over the “blatant violation” of environmental norms in the Aravalli region, describing the situation as a prima facie case of “loot and plunder of natural resources.” A Bench comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed the Haryana Chief Secretary to personally investigate the large-scale violations in Charkhi Dadri and file an affidavit detailing how the state plans to address the environmental devastation.
The court’s intervention follows an inspection of the Pichopa Kalan village site, where a drone survey and a court-appointed commissioner’s report revealed a total disregard for mining plans. Instead of regulated mining benches, the inspection found steep cliffs, missing green belts, and a complete absence of topsoil stacking or air quality monitoring.
“What is seen with the naked eye is not only disturbing but is also bewildering,” the Bench observed while noting that the regulatory mechanism had failed to check the menace. The court also pointed out that officials had turned a blind eye to the fact that mining was occurring far beyond approved limits, damaging ecology and agricultural land.
The administration’s role faced heavy scrutiny, with the court noting possible “connivance” among officers entrusted to enforce the law. The Bench was particularly troubled by the disappearance of a metalled road that the Mining Department claimed never existed, despite RTI records showing it was a project announced by the Chief Minister.
The court has now impleaded the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to suggest corrective measures. The Chief Secretary must now ensure that the responsibility of both private individuals and defaulting officials is fixed, with all mining records ordered to be placed before the Registrar General in a sealed cover.
