Authorities abdicated responsibilities: HC on Bardoli mining case

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has sought an explanation from the secretary of the industries and mines department on why officials of the department did not act while nearly 1 lakh metric tonne (MT) of sand was mined, leaving huge craters in forest land in a village in Bardoli taluka of Surat district.Justice Nikhil Kariel expressed displeasure over the manner in which complaints seeking action against illegal mining were allegedly ignored and officers delayed taking action.He observed that the circumstances indicated possible connivance between govt officers and the mining mafia in exploiting natural resources. The court was also upset to learn that upon receiving complaints, the geologist of the geology and mining department, instead of inquiring with the miners at the site, wrote to various govt departments asking which department was involved in the mining activity.According to petitioner Deven Kunkana, several complaints and representations were made to all the authorities concerned in June 2024 regarding ongoing sand mining activity near Tajpore Bujrang village. Nearly 1 lakh MT of sand was excavated and transported in trucks over several months, but no action was taken.When the case was heard on June 11, the HC observed: “It would prima facie appear that the respondent-state authorities have abdicated their responsibilities inasmuch as the grievance being raised is that illegal sand mining has continued with impunity on a govt wasteland and approximately more than 37,000 MT (as submitted by learned AGP) of sand has been illegally mined from the area whereas, according to learned advocate for the petitioner, around 1,00,000 metric tonnes of sand has been illegally mined.

”Following the HC’s notice seeking a response, the authorities registered an FIR at Bardoli Rural police station on June 14 against six persons, including a firm named Horizon Construction, under provisions of the BNS and the Mines and Minerals Act.The reply filed by the geologist of the department further irked the court, prompting it to seek an explanation from the highest authority concerned. On Thursday, the HC ordered: “Let the secretary, industries and mines, file a reply to the petition, more particularly as to why no action appears to have been taken by the concerned officers regarding the complaint of the petitioner with regard to illegal mining at the place in question, by June 29, 2026.

”The HC has also sought a response from the Surat district collector on the petition and posted the matter for further hearing on June 30.