Supreme Court orders Rajasthan to address illegal mining

The Supreme Court of India has instructed the Rajasthan government to appoint a nodal officer in Alwar district. This officer will handle complaints about illegal mining close to the Sariska Tiger Reserve. A court bench, led by Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, made this ruling while reviewing complaints about ongoing illegal mining despite a ban. The Rajasthan government denied these claims. Officials stated they conduct inspections at all hours to prevent such activities. Senior advocate K Parameshwar, helping the court, suggested that a nodal officer would improve handling of these issues. The court agreed, directing that the officer must respond to complaints within two weeks. If complaints are not addressed, citizens can take their issues to the high court. The applicants voiced concerns that the ban on mining within one kilometer of the reserve was being ignored. The court confirmed that any mining activities could not occur without permission, as it is crucial for the tiger habitat's protection. Last year, the Supreme Court stated that any ongoing mining within this restricted area would be in contempt of its earlier orders. The court clarified that the ban extends not only to protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries and national parks but also specifically to critical tiger habitats.