The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over non-compliance of its previous direction regarding re-grassing of mined areas by leaseholders after mining operations are completed.
The bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde warned that SC might start contempt action against the concerned authority. The bench comprising Chief Justice, Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian directed the Centre that in Jharkhand no ground breaking after e-auction of coal blocks for commercial mining be done without approval of the Supreme Court.
The bench of the Supreme Court made this observation on Monday while hearing a case related to illegal mining across the country and other similar matters where Tapesh Kumar Singh; counsel of Jharkhand government told the court that direction of re-grassing is not followed.
In the previous hearing on January 8 the bench had observed mining is causing complete destruction of grass. The bench had directed the government to make it mandatory for lease holders to ensure re-grassing of mined areas after mining operation is seized.
On Monday Singh, appearing for Jharkhand government, told the bench about non-compliance of apex court order. The bench remarked that action will be taken for non- compliance. Re-grassing needs to be done for grazing animals as animals cannot graze due to mining.
The bench directed Singh to provide details to Attorney General K K Venugopal.
The bench also heard the pleas filed by Jharkhand government on e-auction of coal block for commercial mining in Jharkhand. The court said that it would hear the matter in January.
Senior lawyer Fali S Nariman who appeared for the Jharkhand government said that till the time the court hears the case in January an independent authority could be sent to examine coal mining sites.