The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre and five states in a plea seeking to curb illegal sand mining across the country..The petition filed by one M Alagarsamy prays that no environmental clearance (EC) be accorded for any sand mining project without an appropriate environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental management plan (EMP), and public consultation..It is also prayed that a direction be issued to the Centre to not grant any EC for sand mining projects without taking into consideration the overall impact the project would have on the region..With a view to uncovering sand mining scams, a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also sought by the petitioner. The CBI has also been made a respondent in the matter..When the Court suggested that the petitioner move the concerned High Court, Advocate Prashant Bhushan told the Court that the issue highlighted in the petition pertains to a pan-India problem. The Bench of Justices SA Bobde, R Subhash Reddy, and BR Gavai said,.“Let us have the advantage of the High Court order.”.Bhushan, however pressed for the petition to be considered, arguing that severe environmental degradation is being caused on account of illegal sand mining. Bhushan said,.“It is a rampant problem across the country that needs to be tackled immediately.”.The Court went on to issue notice to the Centre and the States of Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, as well as the CBI..The petitioner was represented by Advocate Prashant Bhushan with Advocates Pranav Sachdeva and Abhishek Prasad..Last year, the Madras High Court had upheld its order directing that all sand mining and quarrying activities in the state be wound up. The High Court had also issued a series of directions against illegal mining and sand quarrying within the state..Read the Order:
The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre and five states in a plea seeking to curb illegal sand mining across the country..The petition filed by one M Alagarsamy prays that no environmental clearance (EC) be accorded for any sand mining project without an appropriate environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental management plan (EMP), and public consultation..It is also prayed that a direction be issued to the Centre to not grant any EC for sand mining projects without taking into consideration the overall impact the project would have on the region..With a view to uncovering sand mining scams, a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also sought by the petitioner. The CBI has also been made a respondent in the matter..When the Court suggested that the petitioner move the concerned High Court, Advocate Prashant Bhushan told the Court that the issue highlighted in the petition pertains to a pan-India problem. The Bench of Justices SA Bobde, R Subhash Reddy, and BR Gavai said,.“Let us have the advantage of the High Court order.”.Bhushan, however pressed for the petition to be considered, arguing that severe environmental degradation is being caused on account of illegal sand mining. Bhushan said,.“It is a rampant problem across the country that needs to be tackled immediately.”.The Court went on to issue notice to the Centre and the States of Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, as well as the CBI..The petitioner was represented by Advocate Prashant Bhushan with Advocates Pranav Sachdeva and Abhishek Prasad..Last year, the Madras High Court had upheld its order directing that all sand mining and quarrying activities in the state be wound up. The High Court had also issued a series of directions against illegal mining and sand quarrying within the state..Read the Order:
