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The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
Rajasthan: Over 27,000 illegal mining-related cases in Aravallis since 2020, but FIRs for only 11%
In Rajasthan, there are 20 districts in the Aravalli belt, including Ajmer, Jaipur and Alwar. The MoEFCC provided information about the total number of mining related activities such as total illegal mining cases, total FIRs, vehicle seizures and penalty recovered in rupees in all these districts. The Aravallis are a mountain range that stretches through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. In this ecologically sensitive zone, any kind of quarrying or mining activity is prohibited without requisite permissions from state authorities. New Delhi: There have been 27,693 reported cases of illegal mining, transportation, and stocking in the Aravallis in Rajasthan since 2020; however just 3,199 FIRs—11 percent of the total cases—have been lodged. This is the data the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) provided in response to a question in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Bhilwara, a district in southern Rajasthan had the highest number of illegal cases reported, with 4,838 cases from 2020 to 2025. It was followed closely by Jaipur, the capital of the state, where 4,261 cases of illegal mining-related crimes were recorded. Not all the cases are specifically of illegal mining, many relate to illegal transportation and illegal stocking of materials too. The cases of illegal mining alone in Bhilwara were 514, while in Jaipur, the figure was 184. However, the number of FIRs registered differed significantly—in Bhilwara there were 1,102 FIRs lodged over five years but in Jaipur the number was only 68. In certain years like 2023-24, when Jaipur recorded a total of 747 cases of illegal mining-related activities and 74 cases of illegal mining alone, there were still only 23 FIRs lodged. The top five districts in terms of illegal mining-related activities are Bhilwara, Jaipur, Tonk, Pali and Rajsamand. Also read: Illegal Aravalli road: SC panel rebukes Haryana chief secy for pinning blame on forest officials Measures to stop illegal mining According to the response by the MOEFCC, there are various measures in place in Rajasthan to protect against illegal mining, including fines and seizure of vehicles when necessary. The State Directorate of Mines and Geology provides for imprisonment of up to 5 years and fines of Rs 5 lakh per hectare. There are also measures such as deploying Border Home Guards in mining offices, GPS tags on mineral vehicles, and geofencing of mining lease areas to prevent illegal mining. However, the data provided by the Ministry shows the inconsistency in filing FIRs when mining cases are discovered in the Aravallis. For example in Sikar, when 207 mining-related cases and 5 illegal mining cases were reported in 2020-21, there were 0 FIRs lodged. Also in Tonk, there were a total of 510 FIRs filed across 5 years from 2020 to 2025, but 460 of these were filed in a single year—2021-22. There were 716 illegal mining-related cases that year in the district. The next year in 2022-23, there were 734 cases. But only 1 FIR was filed the entire year. Talking about the government's attempt to preserve the ecology of the Aravallis, the MOEFCC referred to the 'Aravalli Green Wall Project', which is an initiative to plant trees in 29 districts to restore degraded forest land. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Modi to kickstart 'Aravalli Green Wall' campaign to reforest world's oldest mountain range
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Mass clean-up drive organised in Courtallam and adjoining forest areas
The Department of Forest organised a mass cleaning programme in Courtallam on Saturday ahead of the 'Saaral Thirvizhaa' to commence on Sunday (July 20). In a recent communique, Secretary, Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Supriya Sahu had instructed the District Forest Officers to organise massive clean-up programmes to remove plastics strewn around in the forest areas as the discarded plastic products have profound destructive impact on the pristine ecosystems. Besides educating the public on the impact of plastic products on environment, they should be encouraged to avoid single-use plastics and promote the use of sustainable alternatives, she had said. 'Hence, the Department of Forest, with community participation, should organise massive clean-up programmes every month to remove the plastics from forest areas,' the letter said. Subsequently, the mass cleaning programme for removing plastics from the forest and the adjoining areas was organised of Courtallam on Saturday in which NGOs, volunteers, students and local body workers participated. District Collector A.K. Kamal Kishore, District Forest Officer Akhil Thampi, Assistant Conservator of Forest Nellai Nayagam, Forest Range Officer Chelladurai, students of Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam and the volunteers participated in the drive. 'We appeal to the tourists visiting Courtallam to avoid use-and-throw plastics here to conserve nature,' Mr. Kamal Kishore said.
New Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MoEF returning Andhra Pradesh's G-B proposal a huge victory for Telangana, says Uttam
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday described the decision of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to return a proposal by Andhra Pradesh on the Banakacherla link project as a 'huge victory for Telangana'. Uttam made a detailed PowerPoint presentation on 'The Water Issues of Telangana in Godavari and Krishna River Basins' at Praja Bhavan on Tuesday. During his presentation, he said that the Congress government will not compromise on Telangana's rightful share of waters in the Godavari and Krishna rivers. He said the previous BRS regime had mortgaged Telangana's interests and allowed Andhra Pradesh to push ahead with schemes like the Godavari-Banakacherla (G-B) link project because of its 'compromised approach'. The Irrigation minister further said that the Congress government cited multiple legal violations, including disregard for the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award, which allocated flood and surplus waters among co-basin states. He pointed out that the Environmental Clearance (EC) for Polavaram was granted in 2005 for a different project scope, and any large-scale diversion like the G-B project would require fresh environmental assessment under EIA rules. 'We made it crystal clear — Telangana will not allow its hard-earned and historically legitimate rights to be usurped,' he said.
New Indian Express
28-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Tourism project for Debrigarh raises eyebrows
BHUBANESWAR: A move by the Tourism department to select consultants to study the Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary at Bargarh and prepare a project report on its proposed development has raised eyebrows. Wildlife norms mandate that eco-tourism development work in a sanctuary should be decided within guiding principles of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). However, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation invited bids between June 9 and 23 for selecting an architectural consultant who would prepare a detailed project report on the tourism projects being planned in the sanctuary. While the bid was to be opened on Tuesday, it has been postponed due to absence of domain experts on the day, sources said. Counted among one of the finest eco-tourism destinations in the country, Debrigarh sanctuary has been included in the Ministry of Tourism's Swadesh Darshan 20.0 scheme.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Eco-panel hearing on Sharavathi project today: Karnataka Energy Min George
BENGALURU: The environment committee is having a look at the execution of the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project in Shivamogga. Energy Minister KJ George said here on Monday that the committee will hold a meeting on the project on Tuesday. George said he was not aware of the details of the report prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) team that visited the site recently. 'The project will be executed. Issues that have been raised pertaining to lion-tailed macaque and other wildlife are being examined,' he said. The energy department has sought 54 hectares of land for the project, while offering alternative land to the forest department. 'Only a few environmentalists are raising objections. We had obtained permission to conduct a study in the area, and it was done. If the project is executed, it will generate 2,000 MW of power along with a proper storage facility. All pipes and cables will be laid underground,' he added.
