Illegal Mining Near Reserve Forests In Coimbatore: Madras High Court Summons Commissioner Of Geology & Mining And SP, Warns Of CBI Probe
The Madras High Court has directed the Commissioner of Geology and Mining and the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore to appear before it and explain how illegal mining had been taking place in close proximity to reserve forests in Coimbatore.
A specially constituted bench of Justice N Satish Kumar and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy was hearing a petition filed by activist S Muralidharan for securing the elephant corridors in Coimbatore Forest division and to name the entire western ghats as special eco sensitive zone and to not permit commercial establishments or residences inside the forest.
While summoning the officers, the court also took note of the report of the District Judge, who upon an order of the court, had inspected the area and submitted his report on the environmental degradation that was happening in the area. The District Judge, in his report had found irregularities in the functioning of the brick kilns. The District Judge had stated that rampant sand mining was being carried out in the area with the connivance of the landowners.
Criticizing the government's inaction, the court also warned that it would order a CBI probe if the State failed to take stern action against the persons engaged in illegal sand mining. The court also sought details of the investigation carried out by the State police in a case pertaining to the assault of M Siva, another litigant and a social activist. In a previous hearing, the court was informed that Siva was brutally beaten by a group of people and despite giving information to the police and revenue officials, no one had come to their rescue and the FIR also had not been filed.
Case Title: S Muralidharan v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Others
Case No: WP 27356 of 2019