‘Mining rules flouted’: HC issues notice to state, Ambuja Cement

A PIL has been moved against cement giant Ambuja Cement alleging it has flouted mining rules and guidelines as well as regulations on closure of mines which has resulted in loss of innocent lives due to drowning.

The petition has sought HC directive to the company to follow guidelines. It has also sought a directive to the state to lodge an FIR against the company in accident cases under Section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC.

After hearing the primary submission of the RTI activists’ sangathan on Thursday, the first division bench of chief justice R Subhash Reddy and justice Vipul Pancholi issued notices to the state government’s geology department of Gir-Somnath district and Ambuja Cement asking them to file replies by September 6, when the matter is kept for further hearing.

Petitioner’s advocate Hasim Qureshi submitted the company had mining leases in at least nine villages of the district. He said the company was digging mines horizontally in all these places, in complete disregard to mining guidelines which clearly state lease-holders should ensure a minimum seven metres of peripheral area. The company has not bothered to fence the mines, resulting in several fatalities. The plea sought to underline this hazard by citing seven such cases.