Supreme Court Warns States: Curb Chambal Sand Mining or Face Paramilitary Deployment

The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern warning to the state governments of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan regarding rampant illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary. In a significant order passed on April 17, 2026, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta stated that it would not hesitate to deploy paramilitary forces to stop the ecological destruction if the states fail to implement concrete measures within one month. The court took suo motu cognizance of the issue, highlighting severe degradation of critical wildlife habitats, particularly affecting the endangered gharial population. The states have been given until the next hearing date on May 11, 2026, to demonstrate effective action. This directive underscores the judiciary's commitment to protecting ecologically fragile zones from human exploitation. The threat of central force deployment marks an extraordinary step, reflecting the gravity of the environmental crisis and the perceived inadequacy of current state-level enforcement mechanisms in preserving the sanctuary's biodiversity.