IN RE: ILLEGAL SAND MINING IN THE NATIONAL CHAMBAL SANCTUARY AND THREAT TO ENDANGERED AQUATIC WILDLIFE Vs. IN RE: ILLEGAL SAND MINING IN THE NATIONAL CHAMBAL SANCTUARY AND THREAT TO ENDANGERED AQUATIC WILDLIFE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) I. INTRODUCTION : This Court vide order dtd. 14/5/2026, upon consideration of the compliance affidavits filed by the States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the note submitted by the learned Amicus Curiae, and the report of the Central Empowered Committee, recorded that while certain preliminary measures had been initiated by the concerned States in furtherance of the directions previously issued by the Court vide order 17/4/2026, the compliances undertaken thus far remained at a nascent stage and substantial measures were yet to be effectively operationalised at the ground level. The Court noted that the State of Madhya Pradesh had commenced the process for strengthening surveillance and enforcement mechanisms by initiating tenders for procurement and installation of requisite infrastructure, including high-resolution CCTV surveillance systems and allied technological mechanisms intended to facilitate effective monitoring of vulnerable stretches and routes prone to illegal sand mining activities. At the same time, the Court observed that, having regard to the seriousness and emergent nature of the issues involved and the continuing concerns relating to rampant illegal sand mining activities, further directions in the matter had become imperative.

(2.) The Court further expressed serious displeasure at the lacklustre response of the State of Rajasthan in failing to comply with the directions issued vide earlier orders dtd. 2/4/2026 and 17/4/2026, and observed that the material placed on record disclosed an abysmal state of compliance and complete lethargy in implementation of even the core directions issued by the Court. Upon consideration of the report submitted by the Central Empowered Committee, the Court recorded that despite identification of several vulnerable locations, adequate surveillance mechanisms, live monitoring systems, GPS integration measures, inter-State coordination protocols, and enforcement infrastructure had not been effectively established, thereby reflecting a disturbing degree of administrative apathy and institutional paralysis in addressing organized and brazen illegal mining activities within protected forest and wildlife conservation areas, resulting in grave ecological degradation and failure of effective enforcement.

(3.) The Court also took note of the alarming circumstances brought on record regarding the continued operation of a substantial number of unregistered and unidentified vehicles and earth moving machinery suspected of being engaged in illegal mining and transportation activities in blatant violation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The Court observed that the continued and unchecked movement of such vehicles within and around the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary demonstrated a serious failure of enforcement and regulatory oversight and had evidently facilitated illegal mining and transportation activities in complete disregard of law. The Court further recorded that the inability of the enforcement machinery to identify, trace, or verify the ownership of such vehicles severely impeded effective interception, seizure, investigation, and prosecution, while simultaneously enabling organized illegal mining networks to operate with impunity and evade legal accountability. The Court additionally took note of the grave concerns arising from the extensive illegal excavation activities carried out in dangerously close proximity to the pillars and supporting structures of the bridge situated on National Highway-44 near the Morena-Dholpur border, thereby posing a serious threat to its structural integrity and gravely endangering public safety. The Court noted that the said illegal excavation activities had been verified during inspection conducted by the Central Empowered Committee and that such indiscriminate mining operations continued unabated in the vicinity of the bridge, which constituted a vital inter-State connectivity link carrying substantial vehicular traffic on a daily basis.