The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of rampant illegal sand mining within the National Chambal Sanctuary, citing a direct and severe threat to endangered aquatic species, including the gharial.
On Friday, a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta intervened after taking note of recent media reports detailing the devastation caused by illegal mining activities in the protected tri-state eco-reserve. The court expressed grave concern that the preservation programme for the gharial—a critically endangered long-snouted crocodile—is being compromised by these unlawful operations.
Preservation Efforts Under Siege
The bench observed that the scale of illegal mining has become so pervasive that even areas where high-profile conservation efforts took place are no longer safe. Specifically, the court noted that regions where Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had personally released gharials into the wild have been encroached upon by miners.
In February last year, Chief Minister Yadav released 10 gharials into the Chambal river at the sanctuary in Morena. However, the court highlighted that the resulting habitat destruction is now forcing these endangered reptiles to relocate, potentially jeopardizing their survival.
A Critical Wildlife Corridor
The National Chambal Sanctuary, also known as the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a vital 5,400 sq km protected area spanning the borders of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Established in 1978, the sanctuary is co-administered by the three states and serves as a primary habitat for several rare species, including:
- The Gharial: A unique, long-snouted crocodile species.
- Red-Crowned Roof Turtle: A rare freshwater turtle species.
- Ganges River Dolphin: An endangered aquatic mammal.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the ecological integrity of this narrow eco-reserve is being systematically dismantled by the sand mining mafia.
Registry Directed to Seek CJI’s Instructions
Recognizing the urgency of the environmental crisis, the bench has directed the Supreme Court Registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for necessary directions.
“Place the matter before the Chief Justice of India for necessary directions,” the order stated, signaling that the top court may soon initiate a formal proceeding to hold state authorities accountable and enforce stricter protections for the sanctuary.
