ORDER

1. Issue raised in this letter petition is compliance and enforcement of Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016 & The Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020 and to regulate the procedure for seizure and release of vehicles involved in the transportation of illegal mining.

2. This original application is registered as Suo Moto on the basis of the news item titled "Khanij vibhag kee badi karyavai: dump kiye gaye 125 tractor ret ko kia jabt" appearing in ‘The Rural Press’ dated 29.03.2024.

3. The news item relates to the alleged illegal sand mining in different places in the Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh. As per the news item, Revenue and Mining Departments have seized 125 tractors filled with sand and that the illegal sand in 35 tractors was kept in Ghutku Village. Similarly, at Singrauli 40 tractors of illegal sand was dumped and 50 tractors sand was found at Village Ghutku left abandoned, therefore, the administrative authorities have taken action.

4. The Tribunal has taken the cognizance in the matter Suo moto on the Settled Principle of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India laid down in the matter of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ank