SC clearance sought for sand mining in Chambal river

Bhopal, July 20 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government is making efforts to seek the Supreme Court permission for sand mining in a partion of the 435 Km Chambal river area in order to avoid conflict between villagers and wildlife protectors, the Assembly was told today.

The State Wildlife Board has recommended to keep 10 Km portion near Piparai mine out of the Chambal wildlife sanctuary, where rare species of Gharial are found, to facilitate mining, Forest Minister Himmat Kothari said during discussion on a call attention notice moved by Mr Gajraj Singh Sikarwar.

He said it was proposed to permit sand mining in such area which is not important for wildlife, but could provide employment to the villagers engaged in sand mining. Earmarking specific area for sand mining will avoid conflict between villagers and those engaged in wildlife protection.

Mr Kothari claimed that all government agencies were trying to check illegal sand mining, but said the problem was very old and intricate.

Mr Sikarwar expressed serious concern that illegal sand mining posed a threat to the survival of Gharial. He alleged that the task force had failed to check illegal mining from river bed.

Sharing the members concern, Mr Kothari said besides Gharial, other rare species like Dolphin and tortoise were found in the 435 Km long Chambal river, dividing Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Since March 2004, he said, 63 cases of illegal sand mining had been registered and 56 trucks seized. Five workers were killed when a sand-laden truck overturned near village Banda on June 23, while four workers were injured in a similar incident near Rithora village on July 4.

Mr Kothari said during a drive against illegal mining on July 6, a truck was seized, but about 150 villagers intervened and forcibly took away the vehicle. Five police personnel were also injured in the incident.

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