Rajasthan moves SC to prevent closure of 23,000 mines

JAIPUR: The state government filed an urgent appeal in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking to prevent the closure of about 23,000 mines, as the deadline set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to meet operational conditions ends on Thursday.

NGT had ordered a reappraisal of these mines by state environmental impact assessment agencies by November 7.

NGT had ruled that mining leases in Rajasthan, which received environmental clearances (ECs) through district environmental impact assessment authorities (DEIAAs), must be reappraised by state environmental impact assessment authorities (SEIAAs) by November 7, 2024.

Additional advocate general Shiv Mangal Sharma, who represented the state in SC, said, “We have requested the continuation of about 23,000 mining licences, seeking an extension of one year until the ministry of environment and forest's SEIAA completes their appraisal and processing of the appli-cations, as directed by NGT.”

Due to lack of infrastructure and staff in SEIAA, only 800 out of the 23,000 applications received have been processed so far, he added. “We are seeking an urgent hearing of the case to prevent massive unemployment, social unrest, and disruption of local economy if the mines are forced to shut down, which would also affect large-scale construction in Rajasthan and drive up masonry stone prices,” Sharma said.

“The closure of these mines could halt construction activities across the state and push many people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds into unemployment,” he said.