New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Haryana government and others over alleged illegal mining in a 25-acre forest land in Faridabad's Badkhal.
The panel had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding alleged illegal mining in the protected area.
In an order dated September 16, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad said "the news item relates to ongoing illegal mining activities in the Aravallis."
It said according to the report, although mining has been banned in Haryana's Aravallis for more than two decades, two excavators were found operating on a 25-acre forest land in Faridabad's Badkhal with extensive rock excavation, and large quantities of broken stones strewn around.
The news report also indicates that around 500 metric tonnes of stone has been generated during such excavation, though the same has been denied by the forest department, the bench said, adding that the said location is significant since the Badkhal lake is being revived since it dried up in 2002.
It said the report "raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms".
The tribunal impleaded as respondents or parties the Haryana government through its chief secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, the state's principal chief conservator of forests, and inspector general of forests in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
"Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing (December 1),"- the tribunal said.