NGT Orders Joint Report on Illegal Sand Mining in River Mahan

The National Green Tribunal's central bench on 9 April 2026 ordered respondents to file replies and directed the formation of a joint committee to investigate allegations of uncontrolled sand quarrying damaging the River Mahan's biodiversity and flow. The Tribunal also took up cases involving an illegal stone crusher in Dindori and unlicensed polluting industries near Chennai.

The NGT directed a joint committee, comprising representatives from multiple regulatory agencies, to submit a field report on the alleged uncontrolled excavation of the River Mahan riverbed in Madhya Pradesh. Petitioners claim that illegal sand quarrying is causing direct harm to aquatic biodiversity, disrupting natural flow patterns and damaging riparian ecosystems. The committee's findings are expected to inform further Tribunal directions on enforcement action and restoration measures.

In a separate matter from Dindori district, the NGT constituted a committee to investigate a stone crusher allegedly operating without valid permissions and causing significant localised pollution. Illegal stone crushing and sand mining are among the most frequently litigated environmental violations before the Tribunal, reflecting widespread non-compliance with the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and environment protection rules across Indian states.

In the Chennai case, the NGT directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to identify and ban unlicensed industrial units operating near educational institutions that are contributing to pollution. The Board was instructed to ensure compliance and the case was formally closed after the direction was issued. Collectively, the April 9 orders illustrate the Tribunal's role in addressing localised environmental violations that state agencies have failed to resolve through routine enforcement.

Key figure — April 9, 2026 — NGT central bench hearing date for River Mahan illegal sand mining case