Nainital, May 24 -- The Uttarakhand high court on Friday issued an interim order banning mining activities between Mankighat and Gau Ghat on Kosi river in Bazyur area of US Nagar district. The court also instructed US Nagar's SSP Manikant Mishra to take strict action against vehicles involved in illegal mining and submit a detailed report on the action taken by June 6. The division bench of chief justice G Narender and justice Alok Mahra issued these directions while hearing a PIL filed by Subeg Singh, a resident of Bazpur. Bhupesh Kandpal, petitioner's counsel, said that he informed the court that large-scale illegal mining is being carried out during the night in the forested stretch between Mankighat and Gau Ghat in the Bazpur area of Udham Singh Nagar district. "The petition has pointed out that hundreds of vehicles are reportedly engaged in the illegal activity, especially during night. We also showed video to the court showing the illegal mining and the large number of vehicles involved. We also informed the high court that a written complaint was submitted by the forest department's sub-divisional officer to the local police, but no effective action had been taken against the mining mafia," he said....