Illegal Sand Mining Crisis: Chambal Violence Exposes Governance Failures And Urgent Need For Sustainable Alternatives |
The murder of a forest guard in Morena in the Chambal National Sanctuary region of Madhya Pradesh, reportedly when he tried to stop illegal sand mining, is further evidence of the lawlessness that characterises the region.
It appears to matter little to the state government that the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the environmental destruction wrought by sand miners in the sanctuary that straddles MP, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and hosts precious wildlife like the gharial. The court even suggested using stringent legal provisions such as preventive detention against the smugglers.
Officials of the state governments have been warned by the court in the past of vicarious liability for the illegal activity. Only a few days ago, SC justices Vikram Nath and........