Nearly a month after the Supreme Court issued an order banning all mining in the entire Aravalli mountain range, both the Rajasthan and the Haryana governments have not moved ahead on implementing the directive.In fact, as late as yesterday, the court underlined that the Deputy Commissioners and Inspectors General of Police concerned ‘‘shall ensure the compliance of these orders,’’ and in any case of violation, ‘‘may be held responsible.’’However, those affected are ready with their reasons. They are using the order’s last three lines as elbow room: ‘‘The Chief Secretary of Haryana and Rajasthan are directed to ensure that the no mining activity in the Aravalli hills is carried out, especially, in that part which has been regarded as forest area or protected under the Environment (Protection) Act.’’So lease-holders and the government of Haryana have filed applications seeking a clarification on the exact implications of the ban order.Some miners have submitted an application to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for an Environment Impact Assessment. The Haryana government has claimed that Faridabad does not fall in the Aravalli range.The Court directed the Central Empowered Committee to examine these applications and submit their suggestions. The SC set up the committee to give expert opinion on forest-related cases.The miners argue that mining be allowed on non-forest land and on land that is not environmentally fragile on the principle of ‘‘sustainable development.’’ All mining, they claim, cannot stop as minerals are required.The ramifications of the order are only becoming clear now: Both states could lose a chunk of revenue. Haryana could lose around Rs 170 crore annually as sales tax and royalty from mining activity in Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat and Karnal.The Aravallis are one of the biggest source of minerals in North India: marble in Narnaul, slate stone and lime-stone in Rewari, silica and sand in Gurgaon and Faridabad.Rajasthan earns Rs 700 crore from its nearly 2,000 mines. According to sources in the Rajasthan government, the state’s main revenue is from mining activity, not from agriculture as is the case in Haryana. Panic has gripped the two governments and consultations are on to reduce the order’s economic impact. ‘‘We are examining the court order and will only take action once it is clear what needs to be done,’’ said H S Dhankar, officer in-charge of mines in the Haryana government.In both the states, the forest department has been asked to submit record of land protected or declared forest land. ‘‘As per my understanding, the order mentions the word Reserve Forest and there will be a clarification,’’ said R S Bainda, BJP MP whose mine has been closed for the last six months. ‘‘Lakhs of workers are going to be affected as a result of this order,’’ he added.The idea, according to the members of the Central Empowered Committee is to streamline the system since the damage to the environment is so extreme. Mining has gone on indiscriminately causing irreparable damage to the environment. The mines have left indelible scars on the hills playing havoc with both the ground-water and cutting away chunks of the mountain ranges.
