Illegal Sand Mining
Sand is essential for India's construction boom, but its excessive and illegal mining from rivers degrades ecosystems, depletes groundwater, and causes erosion. This unregulated activity is a major governance challenge, linked to organized crime and threatening both state revenue and local livelihoods.
Recent Developments
- In August 2025, the Supreme Court's in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir v. Raja Muzaffar Bhat emphasized that environmental clearance for sand mining should not be based on an invalid District Survey Report (DSR) that lacks a proper replenishment study.
Illegal Sand Mining: Legal Framework
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR ....
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