Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday issued a stay on mechanized sand mining activities in 14 sand quarries in the periphery of Cuttack city overturning a notification issued by the State government on December 21, last year allowing such activities.
The Orissa High Court on December 21, last year during a hearing of PIL alleging illegal sand mining had ordered for temporary suspension of operations in 14 sand quarries in the periphery of Cuttack city where sand mining was being carried out illegally through mechanization.
“The High Court had issued show cause notices to the miners as to why their licenses should not be cancelled. After recording the facts submitted by the government the HC had adjourned the matter. But on the very same day in the evening the Steel & Mines Department of the State government issued a notification which including operation of sand quarries allowed scope for mechanized operation. Expressing displeasure over the issuing of the fresh notification by the Steel & Mines Department when the matter is sub-judice, the High Court imposed a stay on the notification,” informed Sukant Kumar Dalei, petitioner’s counsel.
