Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of illegal sand mining in Chambal sanctuary

The Supreme Court on Friday took suo motu cognisance of illegal sand mining in the national Chambal sanctuary..A Bench comprising of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta noted the serious threat posed to endangered aquatic wildlife, including the critically endangered Gharial."We have taken note of some recent newspaper reports and the report submitted by CSR which required that the entire protected areas where ghadiyal preservation program is going on, they are being rampantly mined, the ghadiyals are having to relocate because of this mining," observed the Court during today's hearing..The Court said the matter would now be placed before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant's Bench for further directions..Illegal sand mining has long been a major concern in the Chambal river region, which spans parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Chambal sanctuary is one of the last remaining habitats of the Gharial, a critically endangered crocodilian species, as well as other aquatic wildlife such as the Gangetic dolphin, and the Indian skimmer..Investigations and field reports over the last year have highlighted how sand mafia networks continue to operate in the region despite restrictions, often threatening officials and local residents. In some instances, forest personnel and police teams attempting to stop illegal mining have been attacked, underscoring the scale of the problem..Authorities have periodically launched crackdowns and seized large quantities of illegally mined sand in the Chambal region, but officials acknowledge that the activity continues due to organised networks and high demand for construction material..Environmentalists warn that unchecked sand extraction from riverbeds can destroy nesting sites and alter river flow, posing a severe threat to species such as the gharial that depend on undisturbed sandbanks for breeding and survival..[Read Live Coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.