"Regulate all forms of illegal excavation of minor minerals in Manipur"
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 30 2025:
Six organisations working in the field of forest & environment have submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Forest & Environment, Government of Manipur, requesting him to take necessary action to regulate all forms of illegal excavation of minor minerals in Manipur.
The memorandum submitted on January 27, 2025, was jointly signed by N Romesh Singh, convenor, Joint Co-ordination Committee on Wildlife & Biodiversity, Manipur; M Inaobi Singh, chairman, Safe Environment Campaign Committee; E Premjit Singh, secretary, Wildlife Explorers Manipur; Sanaton Meitei, secretary, Unique Wildlife Protection Committee; N Bijen Singh, secretary, Tree Planters Organisation for Safe Environment and Ch Santosh Meitei, secretary, Nature Vanguard Force.
In the memorandum, the organisation highlighted that It has been more than 6 years since the High Court of Manipur banned all forms of unregulated or illegal excavations of minor minerals in Manipur irrespective of locations by a judgement passed on July 25, 2018 in connection with the PIL case No 25 of 2017."Unfortunately, illegal excavation of minor minerals such as sand, stone and earth are still rampant in many parts of the State despite the ban order of the High Court", it added.
The organisations also highlighted that the PIL was their concerted effort towards protection of the forest and environment from further degradation caused by illegal excavations/mining of minor minerals.
The organisations asserted that the main objective of the PIL was to bring all forms of illegal excavations or mining of soil, sand and stone of the State within the legal framework of scientific mining so that the natural resources of the State are used in a judicious & sustainable manner while generating employment and revenue for the State.
The organisations claimed that the PIL aimed to stop the age-old practice of looting natural resources (minor minerals) by unscrupulous contractors and politicians in power in the name of doing developmental works.
"However, to our greatest shock and dismay, no concrete action has been taken up by the State Authority in the line of the petition and the subsequent High Court orders even after 6 years have passed", it added.
The organisations mentioned that the prolonged inaction of the State Authority towards implementation of the High Court order has allowed the unscrupulous contractors to fill their pockets by looting the natural resources without any hindrance.
"Ironically, most cases of illegal mining of minor minerals in the State are found to have involved high profile politicians in power.
This is one of the main reasons why the State Authority has failed to translate the High Court Order into action.
As a result, illegal excavations of minor minerals including hill earth are still rampant in many parts of the State causing irreparable damage to our environment, rivers, lakes and forests of the State", it added.
The organisations asserted that the failure of the State Authority to regulate mining activities has led to the loss of huge revenue to the State Exchequer, roughly about Rs 10-15 crore annually.
Highlighting that they are not against the developmental works taken up by the State Government or any agency for infrastructure development of the State and its people, the organisations added, "We are strongly against the works taken up by the State or agencies at the cost of our forest and environment without following scientific management system and relevant laws, rules and regulations" .
The organisations urged the Minister to impose a complete ban on all forms of illegal excavations of minor minerals including hill earth in the State and take up immediate action to regulate the same in a time bound manner.
The organisations also cautioned that if the Government tails to heed their demands, they will be compelled to take up the matter to the High Court of Manipur for further course of action.
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