Archive · 7 Jan 2026
Uttarakhand High Court Forms Expert Panel on Bageshwar Mining
The Uttarakhand High Court has set up a team of experts to study mining in Bageshwar district.
The court is worried about the damage caused by mining in the Himalayas, such as landslides and pollution.
The team includes scientists who will check if mining can be done safely.
They have to report every 15 days.
The court found that many mines are breaking rules, like using heavy machines when they are not allowed.
The team will suggest ways to mine without harming the environment.
The court praised a lawyer who helped with the case and asked the team to consult him if needed.
Uttarakhand High Court forms expert committee to study mining in Bageshwar district.
Committee includes scientists from CSIR, Wadia Institute, G B Pant Institute, Geological Survey of India, and professor Ajay Singh Rawat.
Interim reports required every 15 days starting January 15, 2026.
Court found serious violations in 61 inspected mines, including dumping waste into rivers.
124 heavy machines seized from mining sites, indicating large-scale violations of environmental norms.
- Who
- Uttarakhand High Court, expert committee, mining leaseholders
- What
- Formation of an expert committee to study and monitor mining activities in Bageshwar district
- When
- December 31, 2025 (court directive), January 15, 2026 (first interim report due)
- Where
- Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand
- Why
- To address concerns of sustainable development and ecological protection in the fragile Himalayan region
- Location
- Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand
- Court
- Uttarakhand High Court
- Committee Members
- Scientists from CSIR, Wadia Institute, G B Pant Institute, Geological Survey of India, and professor Ajay Singh Rawat
- Report Deadline
- Interim reports every 15 days starting January 15, 2026
- Violations Found
- 61 mines inspected, serious violations including dumping of mining waste into rivers
- Machinery Seized
- 124 heavy machines from various mining sites
- Environmental Concerns
- Land subsidence, cracks on hill slopes, landslides, choking of rivers, and ecological degradation
