Illegal sand mining continues in MP’s Narmada belt:Heavy machinery operates round the clock, Supreme Court warning has little impact

Illegal sand mining continues on a massive scale in the Narmada River and its tributaries across Madhya Pradesh. In districts such as Jabalpur, Narsinghpur and Katni, sand mafias are openly extracting sand from riverbeds using heavy machinery, excavators and boats.
In several locations, high-capacity machines, hydraulic excavators, JCB earthmovers and boats are reportedly operating 24 hours a day. This comes despite the Supreme Court recently reprimanding Madhya Pradesh and two other states over illegal sand mining activities in the Chambal region. A Dainik Bhaskar team visited several riverbank mining points along the Jabalpur-Narsinghpur border and found ramps extending deep into the Narmada River. Earthmoving machines were seen loading sand directly into heavy dump trucks from within the riverbed. According to local residents, a single truckload of sand is being sold for between ₹30,000 and ₹50,000. See pictures of illegal sand mining Heavy machinery used in Narmada, Hiran and Pariyat rivers At a riverbank mining site near Hirapur-Amoda village in Jabalpur’s Belkheda area, sand is reportedly being extracted using advanced machinery. The sand is stockpiled along the riverbank before being loaded into trucks and transported to Jabalpur and neighbouring districts. The network reportedly stretches from Nadiya riverbank through Malkachhar, Belkhedi and Pawla riverbank up to the Narsinghpur border. Local residents allege that mining operators have altered the river’s natural flow and constructed ramps inside the river, allowing heavy vehicles to reach extraction points directly. Young men are allegedly stationed at various locations to monitor movement and quickly alert the network about outsiders or government inspections. Mining network operates from villages and residential areas When the reporting team reached Amoda, they found temporary ramps extending for several kilometres. Large machines were continuously extracting sand from the riverbed. Residents claimed the operation has been running for a long time and that authorities are fully aware of its existence. Illegal extraction also reported in Katni Large-scale illegal sand mining is also being reported from the Mahanadi river area in Katni district’s Vijayraghavgarh region. According to local residents, between 100 and 150 truckloads of illegally mined sand are transported every day. Earlier, authorities had ordered the surrender of sand mining leases in the area and seized hundreds of tractors and trailers during enforcement drives. Despite these actions, heavy vehicles continue to transport sand regularly. Questions raised over sand stockpiles Officials from the Mining Department say only one location in Jabalpur district has official permission for sand storage. This has raised questions about how large stockpiles of sand have accumulated around Kalighat, Tilwaraghat, Bargi, Amod and Hirapur. Critics argue that it is difficult to believe the department is unaware of these activities. Areas witnessing the highest mining activity The highest levels of sand mining are reportedly taking place in: The Narmada River between Nadiya and Pawla riverbanks in the Bargi region Areas around Barela, Gaur, Bargi, Chargawan, Shahpura and Belkheda Former Congress MLA Sanjay Yadav alleged that illegal mining is widespread in both the Narmada and Hiran rivers. He claimed that enforcement action is usually limited to labourers and small vehicle operators, while the main financiers and organisers of the mining network escape accountability. Supreme Court recently reprimanded three states During a hearing on May 26, the Supreme Court strongly criticised the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh over illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and increasing attacks linked to mining mafias. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta observed that merely registering police cases or taking action against small vehicle operators was not sufficient. The court stressed that authorities must identify and act against the real masterminds, financiers and operators behind illegal mining networks. Environmental concerns growing Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that uncontrolled sand mining can alter river flows, damage aquatic ecosystems, weaken riverbanks and increase the risk of erosion. Despite legal restrictions and repeated interventions by authorities, illegal sand extraction continues to pose a major challenge across several river systems in Madhya Pradesh.