Punjab: HC restricts mining by private contractors without environmental clearance

Mohali, November 23: In another setback for the Punjab Government, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has banned any private contractor from undertaking mining without environmental clearance.  The decision comes after the issue of ongoing mining sites in Ferozepur Block 3 reached the court.

A private contractor has accused the government of indulging in illegal mining.  The contractor alleged that the environment clearance was still in the name of contractor and work of taking environment clearance in the name of the government was still going on. However, despite this, the government was still indulging in illegal mining.

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has clarified until environmental clearance of the mining sites was done in the name of the government, a private contractor would not do any mining on the sites.

Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had banned mining in the border areas, mining in the name of excavation and in the name of desilting.

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