The Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to investigate allegations concerning the construction of an embankment on the Yamuna River near the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana.
The embankment is purportedly diverting the river’s flow from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh to facilitate illegal mining activities.
Court Observation
A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih issued the directive after hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal. The petitioner alleged that the embankment’s construction aims to enable rampant mining operations in the vicinity of the wildlife sanctuary.
The court has instructed the applicant’s counsel to provide copies of the application to the advocates representing the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, allowing them to respond to the allegations. The matter is scheduled for further hearing in the last week of May.
Case Background
The CEC, established by the Supreme Court in May 2002, is tasked with monitoring the implementation of court directives related to environmental conservation, including issues like encroachment removals, working plans, compensatory afforestation, and plantations.
The Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the eastern region of Yamunanagar district in Haryana, is a protected area known for its rich biodiversity. The alleged diversion of the Yamuna River’s flow and subsequent mining activities pose potential threats to the sanctuary’s ecological balance.
The Supreme Court’s directive underscores the judiciary’s commitment to environmental protection and the enforcement of laws against illegal mining activities that threaten ecological sanctuaries.
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