Close mines without environmental clearances: Gujarat HC

The court further said those mines that were given permission before the apex court order could continue mining for six months but will have to obtain environment clearance within three months.

Following the expiry of this mining lease, the court said, the government will conduct auction again and it will be the bidder's liability to obtain the environment clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.  

The court took a serious note of some glaring examples of laxity in approval of mines in the list of 7,990 lease holders submitted by the state government.

“In certain cases, the state government has not mentioned the place or survey number of the land where mining takes places. This looks like a magical trick. Irrespective of period of the grant or renewal, such mines must be cancelled immediately.”

Petitioner in the present case, Natwarsingh Rathore, had applied for mining lease, but it was denied because the land was close to the forest area.

He then moved the high court, complaining that this condition was being flouted in many other cases.