Use of illegally mined material allegations on Chd -Baddi railway project

A joint committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has uncovered the use of illegally mined material in the construction of the key Chandigarh-Baddi railway line, a crucial infrastructure project within the Baddi industrial area. The findings have led to the NGT taking serious action, with two railway officials and 39 others being named as respondents in the case.

In its order dated August 16, the NGT highlighted the failure of railway authorities to disclose the source of minerals used in the project. The tribunal noted, “Information pertaining to the source of availability of minerals has not been disclosed by the concerned railways authorities to the committee during the inquiry.” This non-compliance has raised concerns about the transparency and legality of the materials used in the railway construction.

The joint committee, which was formed on April 19, discovered that approximately 21,600 metric tonnes of soil and muck had been illegally excavated from the stretch between Sheetalpur and Dasomajra in Baddi. While there is no conclusive evidence that this material was directly used in the railway project, the project’s accessibility from the excavated areas suggests a strong possibility that the illegally sourced material may have been utilized.

The Divisional Railway Manager and Divisional Engineer, who oversee the Chandigarh-Baddi railway project under Northern Railways, have been named as key respondents in the case. Despite repeated requests from the committee, the Construction Wing of Northern Railways failed to provide the necessary documents to establish the legal origin of the materials used. The committee was provided with 11 bills from the material supplier, but officials from the Mining Department in Solan confirmed that none of these suppliers had valid mining permits, further deepening the suspicions.

The NGT’s investigation was triggered by a complaint from local residents, who reported that illegal mining activities were rampant on Sheetalpur Road in Baddi. According to the complaint, multiple excavators were operating around the clock, and several tippers were transporting soil to the railway project site.

As a result of these findings, the NGT has directed Indian Railways and the contractors involved in the project to submit documentation proving the legal source of the materials used. Additionally, the Sub Divisional Magistrate has issued notices to 41 individuals, proposing an environmental compensation of Rs 1.1 crore for the violations.