HC notice to govt on mining threat to Baijnath temple

A division bench of Chief Justice Kurien Joseph and Justice VK Sharma on Thursday took up the petition filed by Shimla resident Namita Maniktala and directed the sub-divisional magistrate of Baijnath to visit the spot and submit a report to the court before the next hearing in March.

The petitioner has raised concern over the threat posed to Baijnath temple due to illegal mining on the bed of Binwa river,along which the temple is situated. The petitioner has highlighted that despite protests by the locals and environmentalists against mining in the vicinity of the temple,the authorities have failed to check the activity. The petition has been filed on the basis of newspaper reports in this regard published from Kangra district.

The court has sent notices to the Principal Secretary,Industries,State Geologist,Mining Officer Kangra district,Archeological Survey of India,Divisional Forest Officer,Palampur,SP Kangra and SDM Baijnath,in the case.