In response to the Supreme Court's severe criticism of the Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh governments over rampant sand mining that has caused an "environmental crisis and wreaked havoc in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary," authorities have increased vigilance in the area.
Central Empowered Committee Visits Sanctuary
Sources informed the Times of India that members of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee visited critical areas of the sanctuary on Friday to assess the situation following the apex court's order. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on May 11.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took up the case suo motu and on April 17 directed the three states to "install high-resolution Wi-Fi-enabled CCTV cameras along all routes in the area frequently used for illegal sand mining."
About the Chambal Sanctuary
The Chambal sanctuary, officially known as the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400-square-kilometer tri-state protected area. It serves as a habitat for endangered species including the gharial, red-crowned roof turtle, Indian skimmer, and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. Located along the Chambal river near the tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, the sanctuary constitutes a long, narrow eco-reserve co-administered by the three states.
Court's Observations and Directions
Justice Mehta, while pronouncing the order, stated: "The issues involved are of great concern inasmuch as the rampant illegal mining activities in the river bed have created an environmental crisis and havoc in National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, causing a grave risk to the very project of gharial preservation of which the state governments themselves were proponents and were under an obligation to foster and promote."
The court directed the three states to jointly develop and implement a comprehensive, uniform, and time-bound Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to effectively address incidents of illegal sand mining, especially those involving organized, violent, or armed resistance. According to the court directions, the SOPs must include "clear operational protocols for interception, seizure, arrest and emergency response, along with safeguards for enforcement personnel."
Warning of Stricter Measures
The court also emphasized that states should take concrete and effective measures against illegal mining activities. It cautioned that failing to do so "will constrain the court to invoke its extraordinary jurisdiction for issuing appropriate directions, including the deployment of paramilitary forces or the CRPF; directing a complete ban on sand mining in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; and imposing heavy penalties on the said states."
Local Response in Agra
Following the Supreme Court order, a meeting was convened by Agra officials, as a part of the sanctuary falls within the district's boundary, primarily in Bah tehsil. During the meeting, Agra District Magistrate Manish Bansal directed officials to strengthen inter-state coordination and communication mechanisms, identify routes used for illegal mining, deploy surveillance drones, and install CCTV cameras at state borders along with check posts.
The meeting also noted that "there is no mining lease on the Chambal river within the district, and continuous enforcement action is being taken against the transportation of illegally mined sand from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, along with periodic special campaigns."
