The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the state forest and mining department, as well as the Central Pollution Control Board, after a public interest litigation (PIL) pointing out the ill-effects of black trap mining on the local environment and health of people in Miyatra village of Jamnagar, came up for hearing.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav issued the notice to the state departments seeking a reply from them within the first week of March.
According to the petitioner Bahadursinh Jhala, the mining activities for extracting black trap has resulted in environmental and soil degradation. He has claimed that the mining activities has affected the health of a population of around 3000 people, affected the water in Vijarkhi Dam located 450 metre from the mining area — the only source of water in the area, and also affected the wild animals in the forest located at a distance of 200 metre. It has also been claimed that the forest department and pollution control board are acting as a mute spectator to the problems faced by local residents due to the mining.
The petitioner has sought that the authorities should carry out an impact assessment study in the area to ascertain the impact of mining on the health and environment of the local population. Jhala has also sought cancellation of the leases granted by the authorities for mining of black trap in the area. It is also his claim that despite representations made by the village residents, the authorities have not initiated any action in this regard.
