The OrissaHigh Court has issued a notice to the state government in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI probe into alleged illegal mining across the state.
The court directed the government to file its response within two weeks, detailing the current situation and the steps taken to curb unlawful mining activities.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M.S. Raman passed the order while hearing the PIL filed by petitioner Shraban Kumar Deb. The next hearing has been scheduled for February 10.
The petitioner alleged that despite Supreme Court directives issued in 2017, the state government has failed to strictly enforce measures against illegal mining. He claimed that leaseholders continue to extract minerals beyond permitted limits and outside designated areas, causing significant revenue loss to the state.
The PIL pointed out that individuals and companies involved in illegal mining have not faced adequate action, even though the apex court had earlier directed strict compliance. The petitioner argued that unchecked mining activities not only harm the environment but also deprive the state exchequer of substantial revenue.
The bench instructed the Odisha government to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the extent of illegal mining, the measures taken to prevent it, and the reasons for not initiating stronger action against violators. The demand for a CBI investigation will be considered after reviewing the government’s reply.
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