Supreme Court Takes Stand Against Rampant Illegal Sand Mining in National Chambal Sanctuary

The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern warning to the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh regarding the unchecked illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary. Expressing dissatisfaction with the states' inaction, the court stressed that it could no longer remain a 'silent spectator' to the environmental degradation.

To combat the illegal activities, the court ordered the installation of CCTV cameras at key routes used for sand mining and proposed stricter measures, including the seizure of equipment and deployment of central forces should the states fail to comply. The court's directives also called for GPS tracking on mining vehicles and forming well-equipped joint patrol teams.

Highlighting the sanctuary's ecological significance, the court underscored the urgent need to protect endangered species like the gharial and the Ganges river dolphin. It set a compliance review deadline for May 11, warning that any negligence or non-compliance would result in severe consequences for the errant state officials.