New Delhi, June 18 -- Stressing the need to provide an extra layer of protection for the few States in India which have inherited lush green forests that function as natural ecosystems, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with a Jharkhand High Court order which had restricted the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) from granting consent for stone mining within 500 metres of forests and forest land and maintained a one-kilometre buffer around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohan verbally observed that there are a few States in India, such as Jharkhand, which serve as natural ecosystems and therefore require greater protection. Commercial mining...