Ranchi, March 12: The Jharkhand High Court has adopted a firm stance regarding air pollution and illegal mining in Dhanbad, reprimanding local authorities. During a hearing on a public interest petition concerning air quality, a bench led by Chief Justice M.S. Sonak summoned the Deputy Commissioner, SSP, the Secretary of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, and the Dhanbad Municipal Commissioner to appear in court on April 2.
The court has also directed the CMD of BCCL to attend personally to provide suggestions for reducing pollution. The bench expressed concern over the poor air quality in Dhanbad and alarming reports of illegal mining and its unregulated transportation.
Questioning the police’s approach, the court noted that there has been no positive initiative from law enforcement to curb illegal mining. The bench expressed frustration over the rising pollution levels due to coal dust, which is causing respiratory issues and serious health problems for residents.
Previously, BCCL’s lawyer, Amit Kumar Das, informed the court that the company is filling its closed open mines to develop parks. BCCL also claimed that it has filed several FIRs to stop illegal mining, but police have not taken any substantial action.
BCCL filed a separate petition on this issue, which the court ordered to be attached to the main public interest petition from the ‘Gramin Ekta Manch.’ In earlier hearings, the court had sought a response from the District Mining Officer regarding actions taken to halt illegal mining in Dhanbad.
While the government submitted an affidavit claiming efforts to control pollution, it did not provide clear information on illegal mining issues. The petitioner, representing ‘Gramin Ekta Manch,’ stated that the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation and local administration have failed to manage pollution effectively.
The petitioner argued that measures taken to combat pollution are merely on paper, with no visible improvement on the ground. Conversely, BCCL asserted that coal transportation is fully covered, and regular spraying of water is conducted to suppress dust. However, the court did not find these arguments satisfactory and has now established direct accountability for senior officials.
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