Supreme Court Warns Madhya Pradesh of Paramilitary Deployment to Curb Chambal Sand Mining

The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern warning to the Madhya Pradesh government, threatening to order the deployment of paramilitary forces if illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary is not curbed. In a suo motu proceeding, the bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta attributed the rampant mining to the failure of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh authorities. The court directed the immediate installation of CCTV cameras with direct access for district magistrates and police, alongside GPS tracking for vehicles on routes frequently used by miners. Violations will result in immediate vehicle seizure, releasable only with apex court permission. This judicial intervention follows earlier observations expressing shock at the impunity of miners and alleged state connivance. In response, Madhya Pradesh authorities recently deployed Special Armed Forces to sensitive locations in Morena. The sanctuary is an ecologically fragile zone critical for the breeding of critically endangered gharials and other biodiversity. The matter has been posted for further hearing on May 11, 2026.