Gujarat Power Corporation gets notice on violations at lignite mining site in Bhavnagar district that are blamed for tremors and upheaval of agricultural land

In November 2020, the residents of Badi-Hoidad villages in Ghogha tehsil of Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, were greeted by a disorienting sight. Since November, the land has been rising by varying degrees all around GPCL’s lignite mining site. In a letter written to the relevant authorities on November 26 about the strong likelihood of “illegal and improper” mining, the PSS demanded that all work at the mining site be halted until the reasons for the sudden elevation of land were inquired into and assurances were given that there would be no danger to the surrounding villages. The show-cause notice over non-compliance of environmental norms reads: “Under the circumstances, you are hereby called upon to show cause, within a period of 15 days from the receipt of this notice, as to how have you not committed the breach of provisions of environmental law and as to why you should not be prosecuted for offences committed by you, under Water Act, Air Act and Environment Act, 1986.” Although the GPCL has submitted a response, it is expected that the GPCB will proceed with its action. Although GPCB and GPCL are engaged in a bureaucratic dance, Rohit Prajapati and Krishnakant of the PSS have persisted in their demand that all mining be stopped until a fully functional ETP is installed and running as required by a 2017 Supreme Court order that says that all industrial units which require “consent to operate” can only be allowed to do so once a functional ETP is set up.