Making it clear that it cannot allow the devastation of the state for the sake of benefiting a few individuals, the High Court on Wednesday imposed a ban on sand mining in AP with effect from April 1. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Noushad Ali pointed out that the authorities are not at all interested in protecting either the river beds or the environment or even willing to assess the impact of digging and quarrying of sand along the river beds.
The Bench granted the interim order while dealing with two writ petitions challenging the use of poclains and earthmovers to excavate the sand from riverbeds, contrary to mining lease. The Bench ruled that “we have no option but to restrain the respondents (the state) from giving any sand mining/sand quarrying lease to any person with effect from April 1, 2012 onwards without permission of this court. We expect the respondents to strictly comply. If there are any auctions that are pending or proposed to be held, they shall automatically remain stayed. This order will be applicable throughout the state.”
The Bench made it clear that it was well aware of the fact that the stay will lead to the state losing revenue, but said that it cannot remain a mute spectator when contactors are digging the riverbeds beyond the prescribed limits and causing irreparable damage to the environment, even as the authorities are not bothered to control the rampant illegal mining. Expressing serious concern over the adverse affect on the environment, the CJ said “you are allowing the illegal mining to generate revenue today and one day the state will sell the air and the people will have to buy it to breathe.”
Justice Lokur said that the Bench has noticed the various scams that are surfacing in the state with regard to lands, mines and liquor.