NEW DELHI: The revival of illegal mining in Tauru and Nuh has started ringing alarm bells in the region. On Monday, environment activists blamed the state government and local administration for their failure to act despite a Supreme Court ban on such activities and threatened to take the case to the apex court or the National Green Tribunal by Wednesday.

“Mining mafia and anti-social elements, with the support of local people, have taken charge of this illegal activity. We have already provided enough evidence and information to the local administration and top officials in Chandigarh. But the destruction has not stopped yet,” said S P Gupta, chairman of NGO People’s Voice. Despite assurances from top officials, including the director general of police, the mafia is destroying natural resources and greenery, he added.

Vashisht Kumar Goel, another office bearer of the NGO, said they weren’t ready to buy the government’s argument about not being able to crack down on illegal mining because of police deployment for polls. “We are approaching SC/ NGT for immediate remedial actions as well as for contempt of court on Wednesday against all concerned officers (by name) for this illegal, immoral and contemptuous act,” he said.

In its letter to the chief secretary, the NGO has alleged that roads have been constructed illegally for transporting mining material. It also demanded that vehicles used for mining and transportation of mining material be impounded since they were operating without displaying registration numbers.

The NGO has also urged the state government to ask village sarpanchs to report instance of illegal mining to the police.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Mining-on-despite-SC-ban-NGO-says/articleshow/31806237.cms