By Our Staff Reporter
Nainital, 15 Sep: The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the state government to file its reply within four weeks in a case related to illegal mining on forest land in Muzaffarpur Mauja forest village in Haridwar district. The case was heard today by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal.
It may be recalled that Haridwar resident and social activist Dharamveer Saini has filed a PIL in the High Court claiming that the Forest Department had given 55 hectares of forest land to 59 families in Muzaffarpur Mauja village of Haridwar district for agricultural purposes.
Saini has claimed in his petition that, instead of agricultural activities, illegal mining is being carried out on this land by the lease holders over the past few years. He has also enclosed a number of photographs depicting illegal mining on the land concerned along with his petition. Saini has demanded a ban on illegal mining on this land.
The Court, while hearing the petition, has directed the Uttarakhand Government to file its response to the claims of Saini within a period of four weeks.
