Rajasthan Moves Forward with New Sand Mining Auctions Despite High Court Setback
In a bold move, the Rajasthan mining department has commenced the process to auction 12 new sand mining plots across the districts of Jodhpur, Kota, Pali, and Nagaur. This development comes despite a recent ruling by the Rajasthan High Court, which quashed the state's 2024 auction of 93 gravel mining leases in four districts. The division bench of the high court also mandated the state government to submit a detailed report explaining how natural replenishment of gravel would occur post-extraction, highlighting the absence of a scientific assessment in this critical area.
Experts Raise Alarms Over Norm Violations
Industry representatives and experts have voiced strong concerns, alleging that the new sand mining auctions blatantly violate established norms and Supreme Court-approved guidelines. Pradeep Singh, a noted expert on mining issues, emphasized, "According to applicable mining rules, once a mining lease period concludes, no mining activity can be permitted in the same area for the next five years to allow for natural replenishment. A comprehensive scientific study on the sand replenishment process at affected sites is mandatory. However, no such exercise has been undertaken by the authorities."
Official Statements and Legal Complexities
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, clarified, "The high court quashed the auctions pertaining to only four districts, as the petition was specifically filed for those areas. However, as per the Central Empowered Committee guidelines, these directions are applicable across the entire state of Rajasthan." Naveen Sharma, president of the All-Rajasthan Bajri Truck Operators' Welfare Society, who is actively contesting issues related to alleged illegal sand mining before the Supreme Court, added, "So far, 256 sand mining Letters of Intent have been issued. The Central Empowered Committee guidelines have not been adhered to in these cases, despite the high court's observations. Initially, only 93 LOIs were issued when the petition was filed, but the number has since increased substantially."
Allegations of Non-Compliance with Supreme Court Directives
Sources have alleged that the state government has failed to comply with the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee, which were approved by the Supreme Court in 2021. These guidelines mandate a five-year ban on mining after a lease expires to ensure that riverbeds can naturally recharge. "The state government re-auctioned the same mining areas by fragmenting them into smaller blocks ranging from 12 to 100 hectares," a source claimed, suggesting a tactic to bypass regulatory requirements. This ongoing controversy underscores the tension between economic development and environmental sustainability in Rajasthan's mining sector.
