Disposed

Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear in Patrika Newspaper Dated 9TH Feburary 2026 v. State of Madhya Pradesh

NGT8 Apr 2026Original Application No. 54/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This order was filed as a suo moto application based on a news report regarding illegal sand mining and pollution of the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh. The Bench reiterated the directions issued in a prior order dated 01.09.2025 in Original Application No.71/2023(CZ) concerning sewage discharge, illegal mining, and floodplain regulation. The matter was disposed of by directing the District Colle

What did the court decide?

Directed District Collectors of Sehore, Indore, and Bhopal, State PCB, and monitoring committees to verify site violations of illegal mining and sewage discharge and ensure compliance with the order i

Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Item No.02

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL CENTRAL ZONE BENCH, BHOPAL THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING (WITH HYBRID OPTION)

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Original Application No.54/2026(CZ)

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Suo Moto News Item Titled “Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia” Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th February, 2026, Suo Moto

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Vs.

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State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. Respondent(s)

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Date of Hearing: 08.04.2026

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEO KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON'BLE DR. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER

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For Applicant(s): Suo Moto

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For Respondent(s) : None

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ORDER

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The matter has been taken up on the basis of a news report reported in Patrika newspaper dated 09.02.2026 titled as “ Maa Narmada Ko

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Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia ”.

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The facts as narrated are as follows:-

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“(i) Illegal Sand Mining Flourishes with Mineral Department's Connivance, Mafia Inflicts Deep Wounds on Mother Narmada: The lifeline of the state, the Narmada River, is sobbing . Once a thriving habitat for aquatic life, the river has now been reduced to a victim of rampant exploitation. Areas that once echoed with the natural flow of water now resonate with the roaring sounds of Poclain and JCB machines. Despite a government ban on illegal sand mining, such activities are being carried out openly due to administrative inefficiency.

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(ii) In Sehore District, illegal sand mining continues unabated, with responsible officers blatantly ignoring the ban. As a result, the sand

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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mafia has virtually blocked the Narmada River at several points. Heavy machines operate day and night in areas such as Jahajpura, Mathagaon, Silkanth, Babri, and Somlavada. The riverbed is being hollowed out extensively.

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(iii) The situation is so severe that even the district-level task force committee, constituted to curb illegal mining, has failed to take any effective action for the past three years. Approximately 400 dumpers of sand are illegally excavated daily from the Narmada river ghats. Illegal taxes are being collected, generating massive profits for the sand mafia. This not only threatens the safety of the river but also endangers the protected aquatic life of the Narmada.

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(iv) Cheap Contracts, Expensive Profits

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The script of the Narmada sand mining scam was written in August 2023. The Mineral Department awarded a three-year sand mining contract to Euphoria Mines and Minerals for ₹70.94 crore. Previously, the same contract had been awarded to Power Mech Company in 2020 for ₹108 crore, with an annual growth rate of 10%. By awarding the contract to Euphoria Mines at a much lower rate, the department caused a loss of nearly 60 crore to the government exchequer. As a result, the company is now reaping enormous profits.

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(v) Dumpers Passing Police Stations... Eyes Closed

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Illegal transportation of sand is rampant with the alleged connivance of the police and administration. Sand illegally mined from Budni, Bhairunda, and Rehti is being supplied to Indore, Bhopal, and Sehore. Dumpers routinely pass in front of the Rehti, Budni, and Bhairunda tehsil offices. Along the route, there are four police stations and outposts, indicating deliberate inaction.

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Dumpers heading towards Bhopal pass through Salkanpur and the Maliwaiyan route, where illegal mining is actively taking place.

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(vi) Major Illegal Mining Locations

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Bawari Ghat : Mining is carried out using high-tech machines and JCBs.

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Chipaner Ghat : Illegal mining and sand transportation using submarines and boats.

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Chorsakhedi : River excavation using machines and illegal transportation by boats.

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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Dimawar (Bhairunda) : Strong presence of the sand mafia; even Poclain machines have been removed to evade action.

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Somalwada (Budni): Multiple cases of machine-based sand extraction have surfaced.”

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River Narmadra and Shipra flowing from the State of Madhya Pradesh are known to be one of the most pious river in India, and life line for the fulfilment of the need of the water for survival of the human being and wildlife and all creatures in addition of use of the water for agricultural purposes. The importance of the rivers has been shown both in physical world and spiritual world in the above lines.

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Issue raised in this application are encroachment, illegal construction, temporary or in permanent shape, raising the residential construction discharge of untreated water sewage water throwing the solid waste in the river Narmada and Shipra. Water pollution is a relatively new phenomenon, and one can safely utter that it is solely the result of industrial waste and sewage waste which is thrown into the rivers and oceans. However, there is significant contribution of our poor sewerage system to it. It has stuffed up marine life. Admittedly, it doesn’t affect us in the short run but it does affect in the long run. We have seen societies suffering from water diseases because they have consumed filthy water. It cannot be disputed that no development is possible without some adverse effect on the ecology and environment, and the projects of public utility cannot be abandoned and it is necessary to adjust the interest of the people as well as the necessity to maintain the

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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environment. A balance has to be struck between the two interests. Where the commercial venture or enterprise would bring in results which are far more useful for the people, difficulty of a small number of people has to be bypassed. The comparative hardships have to be balanced and the convenience and benefit to a larger section of the people has to get primacy over comparatively lesser hardship. This indicates that while applying the concept of “sustainable development” one has to keep in mind the “principle of proportionality” based on the concept of balance. It is an exercise in which we have to balance the priorities of development on one hand and environmental protection on the other hand.

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Freedom of profession, trade and business as guaranteed under the Constitution of India is to be read with Article 21 of the Constitution of India which provides that no one shall be deprived of life and liberty except according to the procedure established by the law. Right of fresh air and unpolluted air and unpolluted water is also part of the life and any activity by anyone polluting the air and water directly or indirectly endangering the health of human being is violation of life is in violation of provision as contained in the Constitution of India. If the right to fresh air and water is not enforced, this will be contrary to the mandate of the Constitution and the environmental laws. It is tragic that the Rivers, which has since time immemorial purified the people is being polluted by man to such extent that these river now become rivulet and become dry after the month of December. The pollution of the rivers are badly affecting the life health, ecology and millions of Pilgrim. That the colour and quality of water have deteriorated and the colour has become black and Brown, which clearly suggests that the quality of the water has deteriorated due to unabated pollution of River Water. The

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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main reason of river Pollution was the discharge of the sewage of the urban areas of the city directly into the water of river, through drains or through the Nalas, the sewage of whole Nagar Panchayat was mixed with the water body without any treatment. Most of the untreated sewage was mixed into the river water through the nalas and which in last mixed with the water of River. Discharge of Untreated sewage has been causing considerable damage to the life of the people who use the water of the Holy River and also to the living creatures of life the River. 6. River Narmada is officially considered as Lifeline which quenches thirst of millions of people of Gujarat which includes water scarce areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions and parched areas like Jalore and Barmer regions of Rajasthan. It irrigates millions of hectors of agricultural land of draught prone areas through canal network running into thousands of kilometres. Government has spent astronomical amounts for Sardar Sarovar dam on Narmada and canal network, this figure has currently reached Rs.43,771.26 crore and more money is being invested on extending the canal network. It is therefore of utmost importance that the sewage being released in Narmada be stopped and river prevented from being extinct in slow and gradual manner. The fact, as it stands today, is that excreta of about 2.2 million people of Madhya Pradesh is released through sewage drains into Narmada water which is being used by millions of people of Gujarat and Rajasthan. 80% of Narmada river runs its course in Madhya Pradesh where all cities/towns empty their sewage without any functional Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).

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Contamination of river water with sewage is hazardous for the human population using such water. As per the latest research sewage in the water is linked to highly drug-resistant bacteria. The victim of such

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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drugresistant bacteria does not respond to drugs and ultimately dies. The official website of the State of Madhya Pradesh related to Narmada river also mentions various diseases severely damaging human body when the river water is polluted with domestic sewage. It is a common knowledge that polluted water causes ailments like cholera, hepatitis, dysentery etc., apart from causing skin diseases when people use the same for bathing. Two research reports noticed by the Petitioner exposes that the quality of the Narmada water is not fit for drinking or even other domestic uses and causes skin and other diseases. These reports, published in 2011 and 2016 respectively, are based on chemical analysis of water samples drawn from Narmada at Hoshangabad city of Madhya Pradesh.

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Due to increase in population, enormous, unregulated and unplanned construction have been done on both sides of River and on the land of River, which is continuous and increasing rapidly. Illegal construction was done on huge scale on banks of river. In some places illegal colonies were developed by the local land mafia encroaching the bank of river causing enormous pollution and disturbing the natural steams of the river. In some places the illegal construction was created in the name of Math or temple, hotels, lodges and the whole wastage of these Math and hotels was directly discharged into the river without any hindrance.

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Big challenge for the Narmada is the dumping of untreated industrial waste and civic sewage. A study conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) says that the 160-km long flow of the river from Mandla to Bhedaghat and 80-km long flow from Sethani Ghat to Nemawar are highly polluted. The CPCB has declared the entire stretch of the river flowing in Madhya Pradesh Jabalpur District as polluted in

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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its latest 21 report. The paper prepared by Vichar Madhya Pradesh on Narmada River has highlighted that, there are 24 cities that discharge their polluted water without any treatment in the Narmada.

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Our attention has been drawn towards the order of this Tribunal dated

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01^st of September, 2025 passed in Original Application No.71/2023(CZ) touching the issues raised in this application where this Tribunal has

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directed as follows:-

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“ 36. Accordingly, our directions and conclusion are as follows:-

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(1) The Respondents are directed to ensure that there will not be any discharge of untreated water, chemical water or sewage water into the river Narmada or any other river within the State and remedial measures must be taken immediately to ensure the completion of the STP within time frame where it is not completed.

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(2) Floodplains zoning must be regulated and the floodplains must be demarcated, kept free from any permanent developments and wherever it is possible, it should be restored to its original position. Keeping in view the fact that various developments have taken on the floodplains of the river and to a larger extent they have adversely affected the river flow, its ecology and biodiversity, we direct that the floodplain zoning should be taken with reference to the flood of once in 25 years as against the other suggested figures or granted by the State Government of more years. We direct the Respondents to demarcate the floodplains on this basis immediately, to protect it from any encroachments, or development activities, which has already been discussed and guided by the various High Powered Committees to avoid the adverse effects on the ecology and the environment.

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(3) The Respondents are directed that discharge of untreated effluent of domestic sewage and solid waste in the river shall be restrained permanently and use of poly carry bags and plastic materials within 100 meters in the vicinity of the river shall be banned. The Forest Department should make sure that there is no cutting of trees on the river banks. The Municipal Corporations of town constituted along with river Narmada shall carry out an exercise with regard to encroachments and unauthorized constructions and shall ensure that no such new permissions for constructions along the river bank shall be granted.

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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(4) The Respondents are also directed that in view of the ground water levels, to submit a comprehensive scheme for water management in the Narmada Valley both of surface water in the streams as well as underground water. No illegal mining of sand and other mineral be permitted from the river bed and No brick kilns be allowed to be established in the vicinity of the river. No fishing by illegal means be permitted including by use of chemicals, electrocution etc. and proper arrangement for cremation along the river bank of the river Narmada at safe distances must be ensured.

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…………………………x…………..x…………x……………..x……………

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(14) Chief Secretary or the Officer nominated by the Chief Secretary not below the rank of Principal Secretary shall monitor it in coordination with Secretary Environment, Water Resources Department, State PCB, all the District Magistrates, and to ensure the proper discharge of sewage/untreated water into the water bodies according to parameters laid down by the CPCB only after treatment facility and also to ensure demarcation of floodplains and further to ensure the removal of encroachments from the floodplain zones and its compliance. Committee may be convened at the interval of three months to take action and remedial measures.”

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In view of the above facts, we reiterate the order quoted above to be complied by the Respondents in letter in spirit. Since the District Task Force has been constituted by the Administration, thus, copy of this application with the copy of the order is sent to District Collector, Sehore, for necessary compliance.

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A copy of this order with the copy of the application be also sent to the District Collectors - Indore and Bhopal as well as the Member Secretary, MP State PCB, with direction to depute the official or direct the District Monitoring Committee to examine the matter by visiting at the site where illegal mining is reported and to take necessary actions where violation of illegal mining or transportation of illegal mining is found.

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026 Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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With these observations, the Original Application No.54/2026(CZ)

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stands disposed of .

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Sheo Kumar Singh, JM

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Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM

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08^th April, 2026, Original Application No.54/2026(CZ) AK

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O.A. No.54/2026(CZ) Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear In Patrika Newspaper Dated 9^th Feb. 2026

Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear in Patrika Newspaper Dated 9TH Feburary 2026 v. State of Madhya Pradesh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Suo Moto News Item Titled Maa Narmada Ko Khanan Ka Ghav De Raha Mafia Appear in Patrika Newspaper Dated 9TH Feburary 2026 v. State of Madhya Pradesh

Case brief

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