Open illegal mining in Chambal, video surfaces:Over 100 tractors-dumpers seen; JCBs hollow riverbed, sand stacked unchecked

Illegal sand mining is taking place openly in the Chambal region. More than 1,000 dumpers, trucks and tractor-trolleys can be seen moving in and out of the river throughout the day to extract sand. The sand mafia is hollowing out the riverbed using JCB machines, but there appears to be no effective monitoring. The situation is such that these vehicles pass in front of the SP office and six police stations daily, yet no action is taken. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) office is located on the same road, but enforcement there also appears weak. Whenever forest officials, police and the mafia have come face to face, there has been commotion, mining has not stopped yet To expose these activities, a Dainik Bhaskar team reached the Chambal river. What they found was alarming. More than 100 vehicles were lined up in a queue, waiting for their turn to load sand. Tractor-trolley waiting for its turn When the Bhaskar team reached Rajghat on the Chambal river, the scene was startling. The reality was far worse than what had been reported so far. Along the riverbank, JCB machines and tractor-trolleys were lined up. Sand was being loaded into trolleys one by one using heavy machinery. This was not happening at night, but in broad daylight at around 3 pm. On both sides of Rajghat, the mafia was carving into the riverbed with ease, as if there was no fear of the administration. More than 100 vehicles were waiting their turn to transport illegal sand. People said – Work continues fearlessly day and night The Chambal Safari zone lies adjacent to Rajghat, where forest staff are deployed. Despite this, the scale of illegal activity was shocking. The team avoided direct interaction with the mafia but spoke off-camera to people linked to the trade. They said this was not a one-day operation and continued day and night. Villagers said Rajghat lies on National Highway-44, which connects Morena in Madhya Pradesh with Dholpur in Rajasthan via the Chambal river. Politicians and senior officials regularly pass through this route, yet the mafia appears to have no fear. What appears to be around 100 vehicles at any given time is only a fraction. Locals claim that over 1,000 vehicles transport illegal sand from here daily. The highest demand for this sand is in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Sand is also supplied to Dholpur, Bari and Sainya in Rajasthan, and to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Court ordered to stop mining on NGT petition To protect gharials and aquatic life in the Chambal river, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had filed a petition in the Gwalior bench of the High Court seeking a complete ban on sand mining. In 2008, the High Court ordered a total ban on sand mining in the Chambal Gharial Sanctuary to protect aquatic life and the endangered gharial species. The court also directed the formation of a task force involving the forest, revenue and police departments for joint action. Following court orders, a company of the Special Armed Force (SAF) was also deployed to strengthen enforcement. However, despite these measures, illegal sand mining has continued and expanded. Passing SP office and six police stations, yet no action Locals allege that the sand mafia wields such influence that police hesitate even to signal their vehicles to stop. Loaded trucks and tractor-trolleys carrying sand from Rajghat pass through one police outpost, six police stations and the SP office. After leaving Rajghat, vehicles first cross the Alla Beli outpost under Sarai Chhola police station, followed by Sarai Chhola police station, Civil Lines police station, Traffic police station, the SP office, Station Road police station and Banmore police station. Despite crossing so many police units, the vehicles continue at speed without any visible action. Villagers allege collusion, claiming fixed monthly payments of ₹20,000 per truck and ₹5,000–7,000 per tractor-trolley. Now know what the Station Officer says… SI K.K. Singh, in-charge of Alla Beli outpost and Sarai Chhola police station Question: Why is no action taken when vehicles carrying illegal sand pass your station?
Answer: Phone disconnected. Udaybhan Yadav, SHO, Civil Lines police station Question: Vehicles loaded with illegal sand pass in front of your police station, why is no action taken?
Answer: Our police station takes action from time to time. In December, we caught two sand tractors and two stone tractors. This work primarily belongs to the Mining and Forest department. Police have a lot of work. Police work on other matters as well. Whatever support the main department needs from us, we will provide. TI Dipendra Yadav, Banmore police station Question: Vehicles loaded with illegal sand pass in front of your police station, why is no action taken?
Answer: Police have taken action from time to time. We have conducted many joint operations on sand and stone, but the main action should be taken by the concerned departments which is not done. Police are always ready to provide whatever support is needed. Kuldeep Rajput, SHO, Station Road police station Action on sand has been taken twice in the last two-three months and two tractors were also seized. Taking action against them creates a law and order situation, so we have to take action thoughtfully. Forest department presence, yet open trade Vehicles carrying illegal sand also pass forest department check posts, depots and the DFO office located along the national highway. The Chambal Safari outpost, Deori Gharial Sanctuary post, forest depot, checking barrier and the DFO office and residence all fall on this route. An illegal sand market is operating just 200 metres from the DFO office, along National Highway-44. Sand is openly traded here. Attempts to contact DFO Harishchandra Baghel for comment were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off. CM had released gharials at Rajghat last year On February 17, 2025, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Morena and released gharials at Rajghat. He also announced beautification of the ghat and facilities for tourists. A follow-up visit was planned on December 27 last year to release more gharials, but the visit was later cancelled. Police and Forest Department’s Arguments Additional Superintendent of Police Surendra Pratap Singh said a district-level task force had been formed, chaired by the collector, with officials from the mining, police and forest departments. He said joint action was being taken and that extensive action had been carried out last year. Some Cases of Mafia Dominance in Morena