new delhi, April 16
Severely reprimanded by the Supreme Court over unabated and unchecked illegal sand mining in the Chambal region, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh banned sand mining and transportation from the Chambal River in the Morena district of the state.
The Morena district administration on Thursday issued orders for the ban after a meeting chaired by in-charge Collector Kamlesh Kumar Bhargava. The administration also prohibited the sale of petrol, diesel or CNG to any unregistered vehicles in the region.The Administration also ordered deployment of Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force (SAF) personnel at key locations, including Rajghat, Bhanu, Deora and Skarda canal trisection, to ensure continuous monitoring and check on illegal mining and storage or transportation of sand. Bhargav and Superintendent of Police Sameer Saurabh jointly inspected the identified locations along with officials of police, mining, forest department and SAF, and reviewed camp arrangements and operational strategy. Authorities said vehicles involved in illegal activities will be seized immediately and cases registered, with provisions for confiscation and early auction of seized vehicles. In a separate order, the administration barred petrol pumps from supplying petrol, diesel or CNG to vehicles without registration, stating that violations would invite action against operators under relevant legal provisions.
The order, issued by the in-charge Collector, will remain in force from April 15 to June 14 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. On April 13, a Supreme Court Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta had termed the illegal activities as “shocking affairs” and “failure” of the state government.
The Apex Court had pulled up the Madhya Pradesh government, noting that either the state government has failed to curb the illegal mining on the Chambal River or it is being done in connivance with state authorities.
“Why, at all, does the state government exist?” The bench had questioned.
The top court was hearing a suo motu case titled ‘Illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and threat to endangered aquatic wildlife’.
