ORDER

1. Issue raised in this application is existence of the Sota River (a tributary of the Sahibi River) which flows through the Kotputli-Behror district of Rajasthan and eventually merges in to the Sahibi River. This river is facing a dire environmental crisis due to a trifecta of challenges: illegal mining/stone crushers operating in its riverbed, unlawful encroachments, and neglected maintenance.

2. It is alleged that explosives are illegally used in the blasting boulders, in the illegal mining activities, endangering the lives of the residents.

3. The issues highlighted in this application are operation of illegal stone crushers and mining activities in the river bed of Sota River as well as the streams, unlawful and unauthorised constructions and encroachment, neglected maintenance and in action on the part of Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) establishing the case Vana Industrial area.

4. The contention of the applicant is that the above facts are directly degrading the environment of the Sota river and threatening the regions ecological balance, loss of ground water and contributing to the water scarcity in the region.

5. Notices were iss