SC asks CEC to examine embankment on Yamuna allegedly to facilitate mining activity

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee to investigate claims about construction of an embankment on the Yamuna River near Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana, allegedly to enable mining activities.

Notified on December 13, 1996, the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 13,209 acres in the eastern region of Yamunanagar district of Haryana. It is situated in the foothills of Shivalik ranges of mighty Himalayas, sharing its boundary with Uttar Pradesh on the east and with Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal on the northern side. The whole area is full of biodiversity, having dense Sal forests, Khair forests and patches of grass lands, which support a variety of plants and animal species.

Royal tigers and mighty elephants visit this place from the Rajaji National Park. Other animals found there include monitor lizard, grey-hooded warbler, king cobra, crested serpent eagle, python, chital, chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, sambar, bar-tailed treecreeper, barking deer, ghoral, red-billed blue magpie and leopard.

A Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih on April 29 asked the CEC to examine the issue and submit a report after advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal submitted on behalf of the applicant that the embankment was built to facilitate rampant mining operations near the wildlife sanctuary.

The Bench was also told that the river’s flow was being diverted from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh.

The Bench asked the applicant’s counsel to provide copies of the application to advocates representing the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to enable them to respond to the allegations and posted the matter for further hearing in the last week of May.

Established by the Supreme Court’s May 2002 order, the CEC is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the court directives related to encroachment removals, working plans, compensatory afforestation, plantations, and other conservation matters.

Acting on a petition filed by Bansal, the Supreme Court had on April 24, 2024, stayed construction of four proposed dams inside Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yamunanagar district of Haryana. Bansal has challenged the construction of four dams Chikan, Kansli, Khillanwala and Ambawali within Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary on the ground that it will have a negative impact on the flora and the fauna in the area.

India