Sand mining: Karnataka high court nod for use of motorboats

The Karnataka high court on Thursday gave a green signal to leaseholders with environment clearance to undertake sand mining from riverbeds using motorboats under a lease agreement executed by the government.

On April 22, 2010, the high court had given a stay not to quarry sand using motorboats, while listening to a batch of petitions challenging the government’s order. The order had stated that only one person can use a single motorboat for sand mining.
When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, the division bench comprising chief justice JS Khehar and justice AS Bopanna gave its nod to all those who complied with the conditions and granted environment clearance to undertake sand mining from river beds by motorboats, in terms of policy.

The bench also said that the leaseholders can recommence quarrying of sand under a lease agreement executed by the government. All such leaseholders will be entitled to quarry sand till the end of the period in lease and for an additional term, equal to the period for which they were restrained by interim directions issued by this court.

The division bench has also directed all the quarrying leaseholders to file an affidavit within one week from Thursday. All leaseholders should move an application by one week, seeking environment clearance. The concerned environment clearance authorities shall pass appropriate orders by February 28.The division bench has disposed the case.