Clustering as per rules: Punjab to HC

CHANDIGARH:The Punjab government has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that districtwise clustering of mines without specifically identifying the geographical areas and boundaries for the December 27 auction was in accordance with the mining rules.

“It is conscious departure from individual mining auction to consolidate contagious blocks and stretches of the river in order to obtain economies of scale and professionalism in the industry,” an affidavit filed by Saravjit Singh, principal secretary, department of mining, Punjab, said, adding that the policy will check the illegal mining.

A petition by Baljit Singh and others had challenged the December 27 auction under the new mining policy notified on October 26, 2018 . The high court had on December 19 stayed the auction of quarries in a dozen odd districts.

Their counsel, RPS Bara had alleged that quarries have not been identified and demarcated and move was made in a haste compromising the environmental and mining interests in a manner that will lead to monopoly, illegal mining and plundering of resources.

The government denied the allegations, arguing that the policy was approved by the cabinet and since it has commercial and regulatory contours, the court could have avoided interfering with it.

The government claimed that only a brief description of the sites was required to be put out in the auction document initially and detailed documents could be obtained from the mining office. Further, identification of precise geographical area of the mineral deposit spots where excavation was to be done by the contractor with the approval of the mining department. Rules do not prescribe to giving details of geographic areas in auction document, the court was told.

Thereafter, the detailed plan has to be submitted to the ministry of environment and forests and get it approved, which is followed by environmental clearance. The contractor can start work after getting the clearance, the court was told.

As about allegations of auction being done without any study, the court was told that replenishment study was being done by the central water commission and state authorities.