SAF deployed to curb illegal sand mining:Officials allege political pressure prevents action, officers who act face transfers

Despite a Supreme Court ban and repeated directions to curb illegal sand mining in the Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, the practice continues unabated. While the Madhya Pradesh government told the apex court that the Special Armed Force (SAF) had been deployed to stop illegal mining, a ground investigation by Dainik Bhaskar found that mining activities are still taking place openly. According to the report, JCB machines begin operating in the sanctuary after 8 PM, and more than 200 tractor-trolleys of sand are allegedly extracted daily using boats and tractors from areas where SAF personnel are stationed. SAF constables posted at Rajghat told Bhaskar that the illegal mining business is allegedly flourishing under the patronage of Agriculture Minister Aidil Singh Kansana. They claimed that officers who act against the mining mafia are transferred, while personnel on the ground lack authorization to take strict action. One constable reportedly said, “We are deployed with rifles, but we do not have permission to act. If the government authorizes us, not even a basin of sand will be taken out of the Chambal.” Officials associated with the Devri Gharial Centre also acknowledged that illegal sand mining continues in several villages along the Chambal riverbank and that local police and administrative authorities are aware of it. They said the minister’s influence in the region is such that the mining mafia operates without fear. The report further noted that the minister has publicly spoken about securing the release of tractors and trolleys seized for illegal mining or transportation. Mafia from villages Bhanpur and Piprai claimed regarding SAF- ‘They will get us killed, tractor operators move around with guns. There is a police camp nearby, but from 8 PM till morning, sand is extracted fearlessly. No police officer stops the mafia because tractor operators directly open fire.’ The administration claims that illegal mining has reduced by 60% in 3 months. Bhaskar’s investigation found an active network of sand mining and transportation in the prohibited area. Forest Department registered 80 cases in 5 months, 85% accused remain out of custody The National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary Devri (Morena) Center team has registered 80 cases of illegal sand mining and transportation from January 2026 till now. The forest department has been able to arrest only 12 accused in these cases. The forest department and police have not been able to arrest the accused in the remaining 68 (85 percent) cases. Tractors not seized in 40% cases
In 32 cases, the forest department could not seize the tractors, trolleys, and loaders used in sand mining and transportation. Out of 80 cases, only 48 vehicles have been seized.
An unemployed person will do something or the other to earn a living: Minister Kansana Q. The public, sand miners, and officials say that you provide protection to illegal mining?
Aidel Singh Kansana: No. Get it investigated. Do I have protection across the entire district? Senior leaders of the BJP also have assembly constituencies connected to Chambal. No leader has any protection. If a person is unemployed, they will do something or the other to earn their livelihood. They will bring (sand) from their own fields. Q. There was a video of yours from the Lok Sabha elections. There, you are saying that ‘I am going to make such arrangements that no one will stop tractors carrying sand or stones, they will have my protection’?
Minister: Many things are said during elections. This doesn’t mean that we do illegal mining or provide protection to anyone doing illegal mining. My intention then was that wherever there are stone quarries, we would get them declared legally. Wherever there are sand mines, tenders will be conducted there. Q. If you say, I can play it for you, what you said is available to me.
Minister: I have it too. You are right, this is the first video. But I had also refuted it later.