Illegal mining in Aravalli: Govt machinery 'rotten' in Rajasthan, says SC

The entire government machinery is "rotten" in Rajasthan and the officials are "hand in glove" with those who have been indulging in illegal mining in Aravalli area of the state, the Supreme Court said on Monday.

Expressing anguish over destruction of flora and fauna in the area, the apex court came down heavily on the Rajasthan government after it cited the recent Assembly elections and the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as the reasons for not completing ground truthing exercise to ascertain the area where illegal mining had allegedly been conducted.

A bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta directed the chief secretary of the state to appear before it for an explanation.

The bench referred to the October 29 last year order of the apex court which had noted the submissions of Rajasthan's chief secretary that approximately 27 per cent ground truthing of the area was complete and remaining work would be done within three months.

Ground truthing is conducted to ascertain the ...