NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought an explanation from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the auctioning of mining rights in protected areas of the Aravalli forest, particularly the land swap in the Great Nicobar Island.
Accepting an intervention plea from Rajawas village whose protected forest land has been diverted for mining and stone crushing, the NGT asked the ministry how could the protected areas be auctioned for mining activities.
The auction is linked to the establishment of a large infrastructure project that is causing significant forest loss on Nicobar Island, with compensation planned by designating 24,535 hectares (Ha) of land as forest in Haryana’s Aravalli range.
Additionally, a portion of the designated forest areas, specifically 204 hectares, has been officially recognised as ‘Protected Forest’ in Rajawas village.
However, the ministry has auctioned off one-fourth of this designated forest area for mining and stone crushing.
“We are relieved that NGT accepted the Intervention Application against the allocation of protected forest land for mining and stone crushing,” said Satyanarayan, Nambardar of Rajawas village who is also one of the applicants. “Our prayer is that village’s designated forest areas should not be exposed to any environmentally destructive activities like mining and stone crushing,” he added.
The NGT directed the Haryana government not to proceed with mining and stone crushing without the requisite permission and set August 7 as the next hearing date.