Despite High Court ban, illegal mining continues: SECC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 09 2022: Save Environment Campaign Committee (SECC) has contended that unauthorised excavations of minor minerals particularly hill earth are still continuing in different parts of the state inspite of ban order passed by the High Court of Manipur on July 25,2018 in relation with the PIL case No 25 of 2017.In a release SECC chairman Mutum Inaobi alleged that despite the court's decree illegal mining activities are underway at Reserved Forest areas under the very nose of the department concerned and law enforcement agencies.

While pointing out that the primary objective of the PIL was to stop all forms of illegal mining of minor minerals in the state and bring all such activities under strict regulation so that the nat ural resources are used in a sustainable manner, the chairman said in case the court's order is upheld the state will be able to mobilise own source of revenue worth crores of rupees while keeping its environment safe and healthy.

He, however, expressed disappointment that the state has failed to translate the High Court's order into action even after almost four years since the ban order was passed in 2018.He then cautioned that allowing illegal mining activities to continue amounts to contempt of court order and suggested that the state government comply with the High Court order.

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