Setback to Punjab govt, HC stays auction of minor minerals
Monday, 19/11/2012
http://punjabnewsline.com/news/Setback-to-Punjab-govt_-HC-stays-auction-of-minor-minerals.html
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Government today also failed to convince the Punjab and Haryana High Court to vacate the stay on the auction of minor minerals. Its plea for vacation of stay on the auction failed to evoke a favourable response from the Bench and it declined the same.
On October 31 also, the High Court had refused to entertain a request made by Punjab government for allowing auction of the mining sites. The Bench had pointed out that it was not convinced that a proper mechanism had been evolved to follow the guidelines issued along with environmental clearance for conducting mining.
As the case came up today, Punjab government counsel again requested the Court to vacate the stay. The counsel claimed that a meeting was arranged to take place on November 22 between State and Central government representatives.
The purpose was to frame terms and conditions for the auction. But, the Court did not agree to vacate the stay. It asked the Punjab government to come out with details of officers who would be responsible for giving environment clearance in cases of auction.
During the hearing, the Central government counsel also said that it has delegated its powers to grant environment clearance to Punjab in cases of auction of operational quarries below fifty hectares.In August, the Bench had asked the Punjab government to clarify that without environmental clearance, how the mining sites were being auctioned in five districts.
Subsequently, the Punjab government counsel had made a statement that without environmental clearance from environmental impact assessment committee, no site would be auctioned. The case now stands adjourned for further hearing in the matter.
