BREAKING | SC takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Illegal Sand Mining Endangering Gharials In Chambal Sanctuary

On Friday, the Supreme Court initiated suo motu proceedings over reports of rampant illegal sand mining inside the National Chambal Sanctuary, raising alarm over the growing threat to the critically endangered gharial population. The Division Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta took note of media reports and related material indicating that protected zones meant for gharial conservation are being disturbed by mining activities. Recognising the environmental implications, the Bench directed that the matter be placed before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for further orders.

The development comes amid increasing concern over the ecological damage caused by illegal extraction of sand within the Chambal river ecosystem, an area spanning parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh that was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979 to protect the rapidly declining gharial population. Reports placed before the Court suggested that mining operations have intensified even in sensitive conservation zones where the gharial breeding and protection programme is underway. Disturbingly, areas recently used for releasing gharials as part of conservation efforts have also reportedly come under mining activity, raising questions about enforcement failures and the safety of the specie’s habitat.

The Bench observed that the sanctuary’s protected areas appear to be under widespread illegal mining pressure, directly affecting the survival of the species the sanctuary was created to protect. Justice Sandeep Mehta noted, “We have taken note of some recent newspaper reports and the report submitted by CSR which records that the entire protected areas where this Gharial preservation programme is going on, they are being rampantly mined… the gharials are having to relocate because of this mining.”

Taking cognizance of the issue on its own motion, the Court ordered that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India for appropriate directions.

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