Owners allege govt destroying their salt mines

BARMER: If the salt mines are destroyed, it will not only close down an industry based on natural resources, but also render thousands jobless.

MAHESH KHARWAL, petitioners’ advocate

Salt mine owners at Pachpadra area in Barmer have alleged that the Rajasthan government is deliberately destroying the mines in a bid to establish an oil refinery, on a plot of land, where salt is being produced since decades.

They have submitted a memorandum to the sub divisional officer at Balotra on Wednesday, alleging that the government, on one hand, has given an undertaking to the Rajasthan high court to maintain the status quo till the dispose-off of the writ petition, and on the other hand, it is deliberately destroying the mines.

Shri Ashapura Sambhara Namak Utpadan Kshetra Vikas Samiti, Pachpadra, has moved the Rajasthan high court, challenging the government’s decision of allotting land for the refinery project.

According to petitioners, the government’s call will lead to closing down an industry based on natural resources at the cost of another industry, which can be established on any other plot. Petitioners pleaded before the court to order the suspension of construction work till the case is pending.

Mahesh Kharwal, petitioners’ advocate, said, that at present there are more than 200 salt manufacturers in Pachpadra and about 10,000 people are employed there. “If the salt mines are destroyed, it will not only close down an industry based on natural resources, but also render thousands jobless,” he said.

Kharwal added that on July 15, 2013, the state government had allotted the land for the proposed refinery project which was already a part of the reserved land for salt mines.

According to Kharwal, after the court had issued the notice to the state government, it had given an undertaking to the high court on October 2014, that the government would maintain the status quo at the disputed land. The court had heard the matter on December 18, 2017 and the next hearing has been scheduled on January 18, Kharwal said.

Kharwal further added that there has been an agreement between the state government and the members of the petitioner society to allow salt manufacturing. He said that the area of Pachpadra, where salt is manufactured, is declared as reserved area under the rules of ‘Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment of conversion of land for saline areas), Rules 1970.