Chandigarh, Feb 2: Admonishing the Haryana government for its failure to prevent illegal mining in the Aravallis, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a personal affidavit from the Chief Secretary regarding the “vast extent of environmental plundering.” The court mentioned a disturbing lack of action from senior officials, including the Director General of Mines and Geology, despite internal reports recommending lease cancellations as early as October 2025.
The Bench noted that the site inspection at Pichopa Kalan revealed hazardous conditions, including unauthorized blasts and mining that risked contaminating the groundwater table. The court expressed “utter sense of despair” that the only recommendation for stopping the mining was based on “economic unviability” rather than the obvious environmental destruction.
“At this stage, we cannot rule out connivance on the part of the responsible officers who were entrusted with the duty to ensure compliance of laws,” the Bench asserted. The judges found it “most disturbing” that a metalled road constructed by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board had seemingly vanished, suggesting either a massive siphoning of funds or a “blatant lie” by the Mining Department.
Environmental concerns, including worsening air quality and a depleting water table, were cited as critical public interests that the state failed to protect. The court observed that safeguards envisioned in environmental clearance certificates were completely ignored, with no evidence of regular inspections prior to the litigation.
The Chief Secretary has been tasked with determining the accountability of erring officials who allowed the violations to persist. This move aims to ensure that those responsible for the “callousness” in discharging their duties are dealt with according to the law, while the central government assists in forming a reclamation strategy.
