NEW DELHI: Balancing ecological conservation with advancements in the defence and space sectors, Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the Jharkhand govt seven days to notify 314 sq kms of Saranda forest as a sanctuary but permitted extraction of high-grade iron ore and manganese from mines within the forests for use in Chandrayaan and anti-submarine warfare vessels.
As a bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justice K V Chandran proceeded to hear senior advocate Kapil Sibal pleading against contempt of court proceedings against the Jharkhand chief secretary for state govt's flip-flops over notifying the Sal tree forest as a sanctuary, the Steel Authority of India ( SAIL ) through solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the court the steel major has been operating the mines for the last 70 years and the high-grade iron ore is used in Chandrayaan and defence projects.
The SG sought exemption of these mines as the rules governing a sanctuary render mining activities impermissible. SAIL said these mines have been the mainstay of its production and supply to "various national important projects like Chandrayaan and steel for anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft INS Arnala".
Amicus curiae and senior advocate K Parameshwar said the Jharkhand govt has been repeatedly doing U-turns in SC over notifying Saranda as a sanctuary and said the excuse dished out now - demarcation of the forest area - is to buy times as the state's earlier affidavit had informed the court about the specific blocks that constitute the contiguous forest.
The bench said it would take no time to issue a direction to the state to notify Saranda forest as sanctuary but is giving the last opportunity for issuance of notification within a week. It ordered that existing mines would be permitted to continue their mineral extraction activities. It also said that the mining leases already granted would remain unaffected by the notification of sanctuary.
As a bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justice K V Chandran proceeded to hear senior advocate Kapil Sibal pleading against contempt of court proceedings against the Jharkhand chief secretary for state govt's flip-flops over notifying the Sal tree forest as a sanctuary, the Steel Authority of India ( SAIL ) through solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the court the steel major has been operating the mines for the last 70 years and the high-grade iron ore is used in Chandrayaan and defence projects.
The SG sought exemption of these mines as the rules governing a sanctuary render mining activities impermissible. SAIL said these mines have been the mainstay of its production and supply to "various national important projects like Chandrayaan and steel for anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft INS Arnala".
Amicus curiae and senior advocate K Parameshwar said the Jharkhand govt has been repeatedly doing U-turns in SC over notifying Saranda as a sanctuary and said the excuse dished out now - demarcation of the forest area - is to buy times as the state's earlier affidavit had informed the court about the specific blocks that constitute the contiguous forest.
The bench said it would take no time to issue a direction to the state to notify Saranda forest as sanctuary but is giving the last opportunity for issuance of notification within a week. It ordered that existing mines would be permitted to continue their mineral extraction activities. It also said that the mining leases already granted would remain unaffected by the notification of sanctuary.
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