Chambal Sand Mining: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed deep resentment over the rampant illegal sand mining activities within the Chambal sanctuary area. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta rebuked officials from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, questioning the very competence of the state machinery in controlling the mining mafia.
The court’s observations followed a report highlighting that mining operations are being conducted “right under the nose” of the administration. Responding to claims that state officials lacked sufficient weaponry to tackle the mafia, the bench remarked on the gravity of the situation, noting that the state governments have either completely failed or are acting in complicity with the perpetrators.
During the proceedings, the court highlighted the indiscriminate nature of the destruction. The bench noted that the heavy machinery and bulldozers used by the mining mafia do not distinguish between individuals, describing the current state of affairs as “extremely sad.” The court further questioned why the state should exist if it cannot protect its resources and citizens from such elements.
The matter reached a critical point when the Madhya Pradesh government admitted last week that its personnel were ill-equipped to face the organized sand mafia. The Supreme Court was hearing a suo motu case regarding illegal mining across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, informed the bench that an investigation is underway into the recent death of a forest guard. He further stated that a committee has been formed to probe illegal mining beneath the Ater-Fatehpur bridge and would submit its report shortly.
The bench reacted sharply to this timeline, asking, “Will that report come after the bridge has collapsed and people have died?” When the ASG promised a report within a week, Justice Mehta questioned why the state had allowed the excavation to reach such dangerous levels, asking if the officials involved were “blind” to the blatant violations.
Amicus Curiae and Senior Advocate Nikhil Goyal presented alarming technical data regarding the Ater-Fatehpur bridge, which connects Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He informed the court that out of the 34 pillars supporting the bridge, sand has been illegally excavated from near eight of them.
The report revealed that sand has been removed to a depth of 25 to 50 feet beneath these pillars. With an average of 5,000 people crossing the bridge daily, the Amicus Curiae warned of a potential disaster if immediate corrective measures are not taken to restore the structural integrity of the bridge.
