The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday ordered the immediate shutdown of 48 stone crushers operating in the Haridwar region for failing to comply with previous court directions. The court also instructed the authorities to disconnect the electricity and water supply to these units without delay.
The directive was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Ravindra Maithani and Justice Pankaj Purohit while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Haridwar-based organisation Matri Sadan. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for September 12.
The bench expressed serious concern over the continued operation of stone crushers in violation of the law, noting that the failure to comply with previous orders amounts to contempt of court. The court has asked the concerned authorities to submit an action taken report within a week.
Matri Sadan, in its PIL, alleged rampant illegal mining activities along the Ganga river between Raiwala and Bhogpur, including the Kumbh Mela area. The organisation argued that such operations not only flout mining regulations but also endanger the ecological sanctity of the river.
The petition also highlighted that despite repeated guidelines issued by the central government’s National Mission for Clean Ganga, the illegal operations have continued unchecked.
Acting on these concerns, the high court directed the Haridwar District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police to ensure immediate disconnection of utility services to the identified stone crushers.
