The Uttarakhand High Court has been informed that the 27 Infantry Battalion, ECO, Garhwal Rifles of the Territorial Army does not have the jurisdiction to take legal action against illegal mining activities in the Ganga river region. The statement came in response to a query posed by the court during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against rampant mining between Raiwala and Bhogpur.
The division bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani and Justice Pankaj Purohit was hearing the PIL filed by Matri Sadan, an ashram involved in environmental advocacy, and others. The petition alleges that illegal mining in the river is threatening the ecological balance and existence of the Ganga, and that such activities continue despite repeated directives from the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to the state government.
During an earlier hearing, the court had sought to know if the 27 Infantry Battalion could assist in stopping illegal mining. In response, Captain Raghav from the battalion’s legal cell had appeared via video conferencing and promised to return with a clear position.
On June 18, the Territorial Army, through its legal cell, clarified that while the battalion fully supports environmental protection and water conservation initiatives, it does not have the legal authority to initiate or enforce action against illegal mining operations. Such matters, it said, fall under the purview of civil administration and law enforcement agencies.
A senior officer from the battalion is scheduled to provide a more detailed briefing via formal presentation during the next hearing of the PIL, scheduled for June 23.
The petitioners have requested a complete ban on mining activities in the stretch of the river, citing violations of environmental laws and the risk posed to the river’s health. They also raised concerns over the lack of enforcement despite the creation of the NMCG Board, which was established by the central government to protect and rejuvenate the Ganga.
The case underscores the ongoing challenge of illegal mining in ecologically sensitive regions and the limitations faced by various agencies, including the Territorial Army, in addressing the crisis.
