NGT Takes Note of Mining Auction in Protected Aravalli.

• Suo Motu Cognizance: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has proactively addressed a news report concerning the auction of Aravalli forest land in Rajawas, Haryana, for mining, following its recent designation as a ‘protected forest.’
• Judicial Panel: A bench comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert members Dr. A Senthil Vel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad identified possible violations of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) and the Environment Protection Act.
• Background of the Case: According to a September 15 report from The Times of India, the Haryana Forest Department had classified 506 acres of the Aravalli tract in Rajawas village as a ‘protected forest’ under the FCA on July 20, 2023. This designation was part of a compensatory afforestation initiative aimed at offsetting environmental damage from the Great Nicobar project, which resulted in the loss of a million trees.
• E-Auction Concerns: On the same day the land was protected, the Haryana government’s mining department conducted an e-auction for 119.5 acres of this newly designated area. A company won the bid and received a 10-year lease on August 4, 2023, to perform quarrying activities and operate three stone crushers, with an estimated capacity of 1.4 metric tonnes per annum.
• Lack of Approvals: The report highlighted that the auction proceeded without a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Forest Department. The mining department claimed ignorance regarding the FCA notification, while forest officials insisted that mining activities require proper approvals.
• NGT’s Conclusion: The NGT noted that the situation raises serious concerns about adherence to the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Protection Act.
• Notices Issued: Consequently, the NGT issued notices to several authorities, including the Inspector General of Forests, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Haryana, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the District Magistrate of Mahendergarh.
• Next Steps: The NGT has instructed all respondents to submit their replies in affidavit form at least one week prior to the next hearing, set for January 28, 2025

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