SC issues notice to Centre, five states in plea against illegal sand mining
The Supreme Court sought response from the Centre and the states on the petition which claimed there was severe environmental degradation due to aggressive illegal miningThe plea also sought direction to the CBI to 'register and investigate sand mining scams' mentioned in the petition
PremiumThe Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and five states — Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh — on a plea seeking ban on illegal sand mining.
The apex court bench, headed by Justice Sharad Arvind and comprising Justices Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai, sought response from the Centre and the states on the petition which claimed there was severe environmental degradation due to aggressive illegal mining.
The petition sought eight directions vide its prayers. The plea said “no Environment Clearance (EC) would be accorded to any sand mining project without a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental Management Plan (EMp) and Public Consultation, and appraisal as per the EIA Notification 2006."
Prashant Bhushan and Pranav Sachdeva, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, said mining has been going on in states without environmental clearance as required by law.
The petitioner sought directions to the Centre to implement and enforce Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, Minor Minerals Conservations and Development Rules, 2010, and the mining plan to be approved under the MMDR Act, 1957.
The plea also sought direction to the CBI to "register and investigate sand mining scams" mentioned in the petition.
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