The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that rivers once destroyed cannot be compensated, directing the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to submit a report on illegal river sand mining across the country.
Even the seized vehicles have been released on payment of a fine. The direction expanded the scope of the apex court’s probe into the matter. The CEC is the expert body assisting the court on environmental issues. The Supreme Court also pulled up the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for their failure to identify the organised gangs responsible for such large-scale extraction. The court was assisted in the suo motu proceedings by senior advocate Nikhil Goel and advocate Rupali Fransesca Samuel as amicus curiae, who submitted a note detailing compliance of orders passed with regard to the Chambal sanctuary in May and July this year. We will not allow the rivers of the state to be destroyed in this manner. Goel informed the court that last month, a forest ranger, Pratap Singh Chundawat, was crushed to death by a dumper carrying illegally mined sand while he was on duty.
The bench noted that in the past, there was a total ban on sand mining in Rajasthan between 2018 and 2021, and during this time, the consumers suffered as sand is used for construction purposes and is in high demand.
Dealing with the issue in a suo motu proceeding initiated over news reports of rampant illegal sand mining in the Chambal river inside the National Gharial Sanctuary, the court said that the matter assumes significance as, despite several orders passed on the river Chambal, illegal mining continues unabated. Going through the note, the bench said, “ The court told Rajasthan that despite past orders to go after the kingpins of the illegal sand-mining mafia operating their nefarious trade across states, not a single such gang has been identified. The court told the state, “We want to inform you that a blanket ban on sand mining will be imposed in Rajasthan.
