Supreme Court Expands Probe Into Illegal Sand Mining Across Rivers
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
The Supreme Court observed that rivers once destroyed cannot be compensated and directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to submit a report on illegal river sand mining across the country. This direction expanded the scope of the apex court's suo motu probe initiated over news reports of rampant illegal sand mining in the Chambal River inside the National Gharial Sanctuary. The Court pulled up the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for failing to identify organised gangs responsible for large-scale extraction, noting that even seized vehicles were released after paying fines. The Court also took up another petition alleging rampant illegal sand mining in the Ken River and sought a response from Madhya Pradesh on the installation of huge excavators and sand-pulling pumps without government contracts. The bench emphasized that states must exercise control while enforcing sand mining orders on rivers.
Why it matters
The expanded probe affects river ecosystems and communities dependent on the Chambal and Ken Rivers, as illegal sand mining threatens environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. It holds states accountable for failing to curb organized crime in resource extraction, which could lead to stricter enforcement and potential bans on sand mining in affected regions.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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