The Rajasthan government denied these allegations, asserting that officials have been conducting regular inspections, including night-time checks on highways, to prevent unauthorized mining.
New Delhi: Today, 19th March, The Supreme Court has instructed the Rajasthan government to appoint a nodal officer in Alwar district to handle complaints regarding illegal mining near the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih issued this directive while hearing petitions that claimed illegal mining was still happening within one kilometer of the tiger reserve, despite the apex court’s ban on such activities.
The Rajasthan government denied these allegations, asserting that officials have been conducting regular inspections, including night-time checks on highways, to prevent unauthorized mining.
Senior advocate K Parameshwar, serving as an amicus curiae (friend of the court), suggested that appointing a nodal officer would be the best way to handle complaints effectively. Acting on this recommendation, the Supreme Court ruled:
“We, therefore, direct the state of Rajasthan to appoint a nodal officer in the office of the district mining officer, Alwar.”
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The court clarified that once a complaint is lodged, the nodal officer must decide on the matter within two weeks.
Additionally, the bench noted that if a complainant’s grievance is not addressed, they can take the matter to the jurisdictional high court.
The petitioners argued that the Supreme Court’s mining ban within a one-kilometer radius of the reserve was being ignored. In response, the bench made its position clear:
“They can’t do anything which will have an adverse effect on the critical tiger habitat without our permission.”
The Supreme Court had already issued a warning in May 2024, stating that any mining activities within this restricted zone would be considered a violation of its earlier ruling from April 2023.
The top court had, in its April 26, 2023 verdict, imposed a strict ban on mining inside national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and within a one-kilometer buffer zone from their boundaries. The order was further reinforced on April 28, 2023.
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Reiterating its stance in the May 15, 2024 ruling, the court stated:
“In our judgment dated April 26, 2023 further affirmed vide order dated April 28, 2023, we have prohibited mining activities within a radius of one kilometre from all protected areas. At the cost of repetition, the protected areas would not only mean the wildlife sanctuaries/national parks but also the critical tiger habitat.”
