Jaipur: Supreme Court has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into organised illegal river sand (bajri) mining and pollution along the Jojari-Bandi-Luni river system. It has also restrained Rajasthan govt from granting fresh permissions for setting up industries along or near the river ecosystem until its High Flood Line and buffer zones are scientifically determined.A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in an order dated Oct 26, directed the state to constitute an SIT headed by an officer not below the rank of inspector general of police, with the superintendents of police of Jodhpur, Balotra and Pali as its members.The directions were issued while hearing a suo motu writ petition.“The investigation will identify persons and entities involved in illegal extraction, transportation and sale of bajri, beneficiaries of the operations and possible involvement of public officials,” the court said.The SIT has been asked to submit a status report before the next hearing on Nov 27.The bench also flagged concerns over what it described as an apparent attempt by the state mining department to legitimise illegal mining by granting mining leases post facto in areas where illegal activity had been detected earlier.It observed that the grant of leases does not, by itself, establish that the mining operations in question are environmentally sustainable.The court further directed the state to frame a comprehensive policy for financial assistance to industries willing to set up Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plants and to develop pipelines for reuse of treated wastewater in or near the tri-river system.The court also directed Central Ground Water Authority to submit a report on groundwater availability, extraction and depletion in Jodhpur, Balotra and Pali districts.Senior advocate Balbir Singh and advocate on record Namit Saxena were appointed by the court as amicus curiae in the matter.SIT to be headed by officer not below the rank of IGP; SPs of Jodhpur, Balotra and Pali to be membersConcerns flagged over apparent attempt by state govt to grant mining leases in areas where illegal activity detected earlierSIT to submit status report before next hearing on Nov 27
