The SanvaadGarh Ground Report | Bokaro, Jharkhand
Despite a nationwide ban on sand mining during monsoon, Bokaro’s rivers are bleeding. Between June 10 and October 15, all mining activity is explicitly banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) — and yet, sand-laden tractors and trucks continue to ply across riverbeds in full view of local authorities.
This isn’t negligence.
This is systemic complicity.
This is ecological crime — enabled by silence.
NGT Ban? On Paper Only.
The NGT’s seasonal ban is meant to protect rivers from erosion, over-extraction, and monsoon flood damage. Yet in Chas Block, near the Ijri River, villagers report:
- Uninterrupted night-time sand lifting
- No visible checkposts or enforcement patrols
- Same vehicles getting seized one day, returning the next
Even after local women filed formal complaints and submitted a memorandum, the administration’s response was limited to token action. One or two vehicles were stopped. The rest continued mining from alternative spots.
What’s at Stake?
- River depth is reducing due to aggressive sand mining, making nearby villages flood-prone.
- Water quality has worsened, with reports of skin infections and waterborne illnesses rising.
- Ijri River’s fish population has declined, affecting the livelihoods of fisher families.
- No compensatory afforestation, no DMF fund deployment, no relief on ground.
This isn’t just illegal — it’s violent exploitation of a shared natural resource.
When rivers are looted under official watch, the silence becomes louder than the crime.
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