Rajasthan Gravel Crisis: Supreme Court Imposes Stay on Mining from New Mines Until 20 July

Rajasthan gravel crisis deepens as the Supreme Court puts a stay on mining from new mines until 20 July.

The Supreme Court has imposed a stay on the mining activities of all mining leaseholders and LoI holders (such allottees who have not yet started mining) in the state until 20 July.

A division bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma heard this matter. During the hearing, the counsel for the LoI holders requested the court to keep the allotment status quo. Their argument was that they are only LoI holders and are not doing mining. On the other hand, the counsel for the mining leaseholders argued that they are not merely LoI holders, but are properly running the mines for the last six months. Without hearing their side, their mines were closed down. Due to this, around 20,000 tonnes of gravel is lying useless there. However, the court will hear this matter from 20 July, and until then, the stay on mining will remain in force.

Bhilwara, Ajmer, Tonk

The court will now hear this matter from 20 July. Until then, there will be a stay on gravel-related mining works. Due to this, mining will not happen on even a single lease of gravel in Bhilwara, Ajmer, Tonk, and Sawai Madhopur. Now, everyone's eyes will be on the hearing to be held on 20 July.

Why the SLP Was Filed

This matter is connected to the decision given on 20 January by the Rajasthan High Court Jaipur Bench. In this, the Mineral Department was ordered to cancel the auction of gravel plots and return the deposited amount. Against this decision, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has accepted the petition in this matter and has summoned a reply by issuing a notice to the respondent connected with this matter, Brijmohan Sapoot Kala Sanskriti Seva Sansthan and others. The court stated in the order that no mining work will be done by the LoI holders along with the mining leaseholders.

Know What the Impact Will Be

After this interim order of the Supreme Court, work will come to a complete standstill in several big mining areas of the state. Experts say that due to this ban remaining applicable until the upcoming July, its direct impact can also be seen on the state's revenue and the construction sector. Now everyone's eyes are fixed on the next big hearing to be held on 20 July.