Nainital, Mar 28 (PTI) The Uttarakhand High Court today put a four-month ban on mining in the state during which no fresh lease or prospective licence for mining can be issued. The court ordered constitution of a high powered committee to look into various aspects of mining activities to find out as to whether mining activity should at all be permitted in the state and chart out suggestions for next five decades. The court ordered that a sum of Rs fifty lakh be released to meet the expenses of the committee which will give its interim report in four months and a final report in nine months. It ordered constitution of the Committee to find out as to whether the mining activity should at all be permitted in the state of Uttarakhand at present and in future. The court directed that the committee be headed by the Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change or his nominee not below the rank of Additional Secretary as the Chairman.

Source: India Today March 28, 2017 14:48 UTC