The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to examine allegations that an embankment was constructed on the River Yamuna near the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana to divert the river’s flow and facilitate illegal mining operations.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih passed the order on April 29 while hearing a plea filed by environmental advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal. The petitioner alleged that the embankment had redirected the river’s flow from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh, resulting in rampant mining activities along the diverted course.
“We, therefore, find that it would be appropriate that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) examines the issues and submit its report,” the bench stated in its order.
The CEC, established pursuant to a May 2002 Supreme Court order, is tasked with overseeing the implementation of judicial directives related to environmental conservation, including encroachment removal, working plan execution, compensatory afforestation, and plantation efforts.
The apex court also instructed the petitioner to provide a copy of the application to legal representatives of the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, enabling them to respond to the claims made in the petition.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing in the last week of May.
