Supreme Court warns M.P. govt. of paramilitary deployment to rein in Chambal sand miners

The Supreme Court on Friday (April 17, 2026) cautioned the Madhya Pradesh government that it would order the deployment of paramilitary forces to curb rampant illegal sand mining in the ecologically fragile and protected National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary if the State failed to initiate prosecution against the offenders.

The top court, passing the order in a suo motu case, said the rampant sand mining in the area is a result of the abject failure of the States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The sanctuary is located at the tri-junction of the three States.