Haryana CM vows to make Yamuna pollution-free

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to investigate the allegations that an embankment has been constructed on the Yamuna River near the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana's Yamunanagar district to facilitate rampant and potentially illegal mining operations.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

The court's directive follows a plea raising environmental concerns over the alleged diversion of the river's natural flow from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh.

Hearing the matter, the double judge bench comprising Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih stated that the issue merited a detailed and independent inquiry by the CEC. The order was issued in response to a petition filed by environmental advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal.

According to the petitioner, the embankment near Kalesar had altered the Yamuna's natural course, resulting in a significant diversion of the river's flow away from Haryana. He argued that this change was orchestrated to enable unregulated mining in the area, potentially threatening the ecological balance of the region and the protected sanctuary.

Therefore, it would be appropriate that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) examines the issues and submit its report, the bench observed in its order.