Citing threat to endangered wildlife, SC flags illegal mining in Raj, MP, UP

AGRA: After Supreme Court (SC) came down heavily on govts of UP, Rajasthan and MP in connection with rampant sand mining, causing “environmental crisis and wreaking havoc in National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary”, vigilance in the area has now been increased. Sources told TOI that members of the SC-appointed Central Empowered Committee visited the sanctuary’s critical areas on Friday to take stock following the apex court order. The court will now hear the matter on May 11.SC bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took up the matter suo motu, and on April 17, passed orders directing the three states to “install high-resolution Wi-Fi-enabled CCTV cameras along all routes in the area frequently used for illegal sand mining”.The Chambal sanctuary, also known as National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary -- a 5,400-sq km tri-state protected area -- is home to endangered gharial, red-crowned roof turtle, Indian skimmer and endangered Ganges river dolphin. Located along the Chambal river near the tri-junction of Rajasthan, MP and UP, it constitutes a long, narrow eco-reserve co-administered by the three states.“The issues involved are of great concern in as much 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 govts themselves were proponents and were under an obligation to foster and promote,” Justice Mehta said while pronouncing the order.In its order, the court directed that the three states jointly develop and implement a comprehensive, uniform and time-bound SOP to effectively address incidents of illegal sand mining, especially those involving organised, violent or armed resistance. According to court directions, the SOPs will include “clear operational protocols for interception, seizure, arrest and emergency response, along with safeguards for enforcement personnel”.The court also said the states should take concrete and effective measures against illegal mining activities. It further cautioned that, failing which, “it will be constrained to invoke its extraordinary 26 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 MP and Rajasthan; and imposing heavy penalties on the said states...”After the SC order, a meeting was called by Agra officials since a part of the sanctuary falls under the district’s boundary, mainly Bah tehsil. At the meeting, Agra DM Manish Bansal directed officials to strengthen inter-state coordination and communication mechanisms, identify routes used for illegal mining, use 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 MP, along with periodic special campaigns”.