SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, August 25: Jharkhand’s plan to auction sand ghats by September 15 may run into trouble after a recent Supreme Court judgment stressed that environmental clearances for sand mining cannot be granted without a scientific replenishment study.
The ruling, delivered on August 22, 2025 in the case of Union Territory of J&K & Anr vs Raja Muzaffar Bhat & Ors, is expected to directly impact Jharkhand, where such studies have not been carried out for the past two to three years.
Chief Secretary’s Push for Auctions
Earlier this month, the Jharkhand Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari directed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to complete the auction of sand ghats by mid-September.
She also asked all deputy commissioners (DCs) to understand the new policy for sand ghats to make the auction process transparent and avoid technical issues.
The state has been under pressure to formalise sand mining operations, both to meet growing demand from the construction sector and to boost state revenue.
Meanwhile, a letter written by Gaurav Singh, a social worker, to the Member Secretary of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the Mines Director, has raised a red flag. Singh stressed that mining cannot proceed on the basis of outdated or redundant environmental clearances. He cautioned that annual extraction limits must be revised on the basis of replenishment studies, and reminded that only manual mining is permissible, with heavy machinery strictly prohibited.
He has said that Jharkhand has granted various environment clearances of sand in favour of M/s J.S.M.D.C Ltd. in the past with a condition that the project proponent shall submit a replenishment study report of sand every year.
What the Supreme Court Said
In its August 22 ruling, the Supreme Court came down heavily on authorities in Jammu & Kashmir for granting environmental clearances without proper replenishment studies.
The Court observed that:
District Survey Reports (DSRs) are untenable without replenishment data, since such studies are integral to sustainable sand mining.
Regulatory bodies had shown a “half-hearted approach” by allowing mining despite gaps in scientific assessment.
Granting clearances without replenishment studies amounted to a “compromise with regulatory integrity” and risked long-term ecological damage.
The Court upheld the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) decision cancelling such clearances and dismissed appeals by the J&K administration, the National Highways Authority of India, and private project proponents.
Legal experts say this verdict sets a strong precedent that could invalidate sand mining auctions in Jharkhand unless replenishment studies are conducted afresh.
Jharkhand’s Sand Crisis
Jharkhand has been struggling with a shortage of legally available sand for years. With no replenishment studies and delays in formal auctions, the vacuum has fuelled illegal mining and black-market sales, often carried out using heavy machinery in violation of clearance conditions.
The shortage has driven up prices, impacting both small builders and large infrastructure projects, while also causing widespread ecological damage along riverbeds.
This crisis has also had a political dimension. In the last Assembly election, the BJP attacked the state government over rampant illegal sand mining, turning it into a poll issue to highlight administrative failure.
The Road Ahead
With the Supreme Court’s ruling now binding, Jharkhand finds itself in a bind. Unless new replenishment studies are undertaken, the state may not be able to legally auction sand ghats, potentially stalling construction activity and hurting revenue.
The challenge before the government is twofold:
Balance environmental safeguards with the urgent demand for construction-grade sand.
Curb illegal mining while ensuring legal supply through auctions backed by scientific studies.
For now, the Chief Secretary’s September 15 auction deadline appears uncertain, as the state weighs compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives against the realities of ground-level demand.
