Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of In Re.: News item appearing in Dainik Bharat Dated 02.11.2023 titled “Ůशासिनक अंकुस के बाद और तेज Šआ बालूके अवैध खनन का खेल” Vs Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board & Others dated 22/04/2024. The matter related to illegal sand mining, Bokaro, Jharkhand.

Affidavit filed by the Deputy Commissioner, Bokaro stated that the operations of sand ghats in Jharkhand are governed by the Jharkhand State Sand Mining Policy, 2017, and the Ghats have been categorized as Category-1 and Category-2 Ghats. Category-1 Sands Ghats can be used for non- commercial purposes such as - domestic purposes, community purposes, Government sponsored scheme etc. whereas Category-2 of the Sand Ghats shall be maintained by the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (JSMDC), which will be used for commercial purposes.

NGT raised the question the Jharkhand State Sand Mining Policy, 2017, has any statutory force and is in consonance with the Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines, 2016 and Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

The NGT directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to file a detailed counter affidavit as to whether the Jharkhand State Sand Mining Policy, 2017, framed by the state of Jharkhand is a valid policy and is in accordance with the Sand Mining Guidelines 2016 and 2020 issued by the ministry.