Supreme Court calls for action against illegal mining in five states including Punjab

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday described illegal mining as a “serious matter” that needs urgent attention and intervention. During a hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by M. Alagarasamy in 2018, the court sought records and details from five states—Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh—regarding allegations of illegal sand mining.

The PIL alleged that unauthorized mining activities were causing significant environmental damage and that mining units were operating without the mandatory environmental plans and clearances. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing Alagarasamy, argued that instead of taking corrective action, state authorities were shielding the miners involved.

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar emphasized the gravity of the issue, noting the necessity of examining whether a similar petition regarding orders by the National Green Tribunal on sand mining is pending before the apex court.

The court directed counsel for the five states to present facts and figures at the next hearing, scheduled for January 27, 2024. Senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, representing Tamil Nadu, assured the bench that the state is taking effective measures to address the issue.