JAIPUR: A division bench of Rajasthan High Court has called for a report from the state government following allegations of non-compliance of the provisions of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagjost

It seems the state government and the police have met a dead end when it comes to curbing illegal mining. At one level, labourers are getting killed due to poor safety standards or mine collapses. At another level, when the police are asked to pull up socks against the mafia, they themselves are attacked.

On Monday, in Asojai village on the outskirts of Jaipur, one mine worker was killed and three others injured when a portion of a mine collapsed. On the same day, a braveheart policeman was mowed down by mining mafia in Dholpur when he attempted to stop trucks carrying stones.

JAIPUR: Once again coming down heavily on illegal mining in the state, a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice N K Jain stayed all mining activities in Puhaniya village of Buhana tehsil and in Chanaana village of Chirawa tehsil in Jhunjhunu district.

The PILs claimed that mining lease holders are doing illegal mining outside the pit allotted to them. The use of explosives is causing health hazards and also resulting in cracks in constructions.

JAIPUR: Almost two FIRs in connection with illegal mining are being lodged everyday in various police stations of the district in an indication that mafias have not left untouched even the city's surrounding areas.

The ongoing drive by the district administration has brought to the fore rampant illegal mining at several places including Maheshwas, Chainpura, Shyopur, Hathnoda, Manoharpura, Baneri Baandh and Kotputali. At least 15 people have been arrested over the past one month.

JAIPUR: With monsoon approaching and farmers gearing up to sow the next crop, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has a big challenge ahead to take possession of remaining acquired land for the ring road project.

As the clouds of uncertainty continue to hover over the project, even those farmers who had surrendered their lands are preparing to sow groundnut and bajra after rain this monsoon.

JAIPUR: A major disaster was averted at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) depot in Sitapura on Sunday when thousands of litres of oil spilled on to the premises after a "gasket failure". However, swift action by company officials averted a major tragedy.

The nearby factories also witnessed a shower of oil, which created panic among the labourers. They moved out of their units immediately fearing that this could lead to a major inferno like the last one. An FIR has been registered against IOC officials by some owners of nearby factories for putting their life in danger.

JAIPUR: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved allotment of nearly 400 hectares land near Sariska to the forest department in return for the land acquired in Jaipur for the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana meant to rehabilitate slum dwellers.

Decisions related to salaries and perks of chairperson and members of the state human rights commission, lawyers' welfare, increase in study leave for doctors and enhancing the policemen's allowances were also taken at the meeting.

JAIPUR: With the forest department unwilling to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for traffic via the Ghat Ki Ghuni tunnel, the JDA has got another hurdle ahead before completion of the project.

The forest department has asked the (JDA) to deposit Rs 14 lakh to get NOC for the project. The Ghat Ki Ghuni tunnel project, aimed at providing an alternative to the narrow Jaipur-Agra Road, is being constructed by drilling the Jhalana hills.

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court on Monday came down heavily on the state government over illegal allotments and encroachments in the catchment area of water bodies in the state, saying the government was encouraging such illegality with active aide of its officials.

The harsh criticism came soon after the government moved an application demanding that the PIL related to encroachments of water bodies shall be heard by a division bench when the court was about to pronouncement its judgment after several months of hearing.