INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. THE LIVESTREAMING OF CONSTITUTIONAL BENCH PROCEEDINGS

THE CONTEXT: For the first time, India’s apex court livestreamed the three separate constitutional bench proceedings simultaneously in YouTube.
THE EXPLANATION:
• There are more than 8 lakh people viewed the proceedings before the three Constitution Benches.
• The livestreaming was closely monitored by technical support teams of the court to ensure the smooth proceedings.
• The cases heard by these benches are the challenge to 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections of the society, the scuffle between Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde’s faction and the Uddhav Thackeray camp over who was the “real” Shiv Sena Party and the challenge to the All India Bar Examination post enrollment for lawyers.
• This initiative aims to bring the judiciary close to the citizens living across India, especially the important hearings having constitutional significance.
• The initiative was result of the meeting of the Supreme Court Judges on September 20.
• In the future, the apex court would use a dedicated platform for livestreaming the hearings.
Background
• Swapnil Tripathi judgment of September 2018 upheld the plea demanding livestreaming of the Supreme Court proceedings. In this judgement, the apex court held that livestreaming provides the opportunity of the general public to witness the live proceedings, which is otherwise difficult due to logistical challenges and infrastructural restrictions.
• The court held that livestreaming of court proceedings was part of the right to access justice under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Article 21 provides the right to life and personal liberty. Live telecast of court proceedings will help realize the “open court system” which envisages a universally accessible judiciary.
• In the 2018 judgement, several conditions were laid out by the Supreme Court for livestreaming. The livestreaming of apex court proceedings happened for the first time in August 2022, when a ceremonial bench said farewell to the outgoing Chief Justice of India N V Ramana. The High Courts of Gujarat, Orissa, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Patna and Madhya Pradesh have been livestreaming their proceedings through their own YouTube channels since the early 2020.

2. THE KANNADA LANGUAGE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT BILL

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill was tabled at the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill gives preference to Kannadigas in government jobs and provides reservations to locals in private jobs generated in the state.
• The Bill defines Kannadigas as individuals whose parents have resided in Karnataka for a minimum of 15 years with the knowledge of reading and writing Kannada.
• Under this Bill, practical and functional knowledge of Kannada will be taught in higher, technical and professional education courses.
• Students who have studies in Kannada Medium schools will get reservations in higher education.
• It will deny land concession, tax rebates and other incentives to private companies that do not recruit at least a minimum percentage of Kannadigas.
• Government jobs in the state will be provided only if a Kannada language exam is passed. This exam is not required for individuals who have passed Class 10 with Kannada as first or second language.
• The Bill proposes the use of Kannada language for all official and administrative correspondences in the state and by local authorities. Earlier, the state government was criticised for using only English language for correspondence.
• Kannada is also made mandatory in subordinate courts, tribunals, banks and other financial institutions.
• Shops, industries and commercial establishments who violate this proposed legislation will incur a fine of Rs.5,000 to Rs.10,000, including suspension of license.
VALUE ADDITION:
Sarojini Mahishi Committee
The Sarojini Mahishi Committee had provided 58 recommendations to provide job security for Kannadigas in Karnataka. However, these recommendations were not adopted because they were highly stringent. Among them are the 100 per cent reservation for Kannadigas in all public sector units, 100 per cent reservation for Kannadigas in group C and D jobs in central government departments and PSUs in Karnataka and minimum 80 per cent and 65 per cent reservation in Group B and A jobs respectively. These recommendations were not adopted as they may cause several constitutional challenges and violate fundamental rights.

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

3. REPORT ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS IN THE AGREEMENT AREA

THE CONTEXT: Recently, according to the report most of the waterbird populations protected under the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) are now facing serious threats.
The EXPLANATION:
The report was released at the Eighth Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA opened in Budapest September 27, 2022.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT
Decline in population:
• Some 41 percent of all waterbird populations protected under AEWA are now declining.
• The decline in waterbird populations in the short and long term is 40 percent higher than the increase. This proportion has not changed substantially over the last 15 years.
• Some 29 per cent are stable and 30 per cent are increasing.
Major threats:
• The species are impacted by the 38 threats including shifting and alteration of habitat, invasive alien species, unsustainable harvest and poaching, dams and water management.
Region based assessment:
• The proportion of decrease in AEWA waterbird population is higher in central and southwest Asia and eastern and southern Africa.
IUCN Status:
• Some 13 percent of the AEWA species are globally threatened.
• Four are critically endangered.
• Nine are endangered and 20 are vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Major challenges faced by the Migratory Waterbirds
• Changes in range and distribution: It is well known that temperature is one of the primary determinants of the location of biomes and habitats. It is therefore logical that species ranges also depend on temperature.
• Changes in breeding range: The periods of the two BTO Breeding Bird Atlases, bird species (including some waterbird species) extended their breeding ranges northwards by an average of 18.9 km, a trend that they attributed to warming temperatures.
• Habitat Loss: One of the main threats facing endangered migratory animals is habitat loss.
• Turbines: The Bern Convention (the Council of Europe) commissioned a report from BirdLife International on how wind turbines affect birds and how to minimize the risks.
• Oil Spills: Of all man-made disasters, oil spills are among the most common and can, over localized areas, be one of the most destructive to wildlife, killing the animals and poisoning their habitats.
• Climate Change: The Earth‘s temperature and sea levels are rising, rain patterns are altering, and extreme weather is occurring more often.
• Electrocution: Birds are threatened due to power poles that have yet to be fitted with the latest safety devices.
• Unsustainable Hunting and Poaching: Poaching, illegal trade and unsustainable hunting are among the most serious threats to the survival of wild species (migratory and sedentary) alongside habitat loss and degradation.
• Wildlife Crime: Wildlife crime ranks alongside drug smuggling, human trafficking and illegal arms trade as one of the most lucrative activities funding organized crime and terrorism.
Recommendations of the report
• The development of schemes to monitor the breeding of migratory waterbirds in Africa, central and southwest Asia and Russia.
• Recruitment of additional Parties to join the agreement
• Intensifying the assistance to AEWA parties in Africa and central and southwest Asia
• Filling the gaps in implementing the AEWA Strategic Plan 2019 – 2027.

4. NEW TARGET UNDER NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME

THE CONTEXT: The Centre has set a new target of a 40% reduction in particulate matter concentration in cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) by 2026, updating the earlier goal of 20 to 30% reduction by 2024.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The Indian Government has set a new target of 40 per cent reduction in the particulate matter concentration by 2026 in cities under the NCAP.
• This is an update of the earlier goal of 20 to 30 per cent reduction of particulate matter concentration by 2024.
• The city-specific plans under NCAP are being upgraded to make them on par with the new goals.
• According to the Environment Ministry, 95 of the 131 non-attainment cities covered under the NCAP have reduced their PM10 levels in 2021 when compared with the 2017 levels.
• Non-attainment cities are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for over 5 years from 2011 to 2015.
• 20 cities have met the national standards for annual average PM10 concentration, which is 60 micrograms per cubic meters.
• Cities that showed an overall improvement in PM10 concentration since 2017 are Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Patna, Nagpur, Pune, Agra, Allahabad, Bareilly, Firozabad, Moradabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Raipur and others.
VALUE ADDITION:
NCAP
• The NCAP was launched in 2019 as the first-ever national framework for air quality management with time-bound reduction target. It aims to bring down the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 across India with 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration of the pollutants.
• Under NCAP, city-specific action plans have been created to include measures to strengthen the monitoring network, reduce pollution from industries and vehicles etc. It also aims to improve capacity to management air pollution and raise public awareness about the harms caused by the air pollution.

SECURITY AFFAIRS

5. MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS BANS PFI AND ITS ASSOCIATES FOR FIVE YEARS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates were banned by the Centre for a period of five years, days after law enforcement agents tried in a campaign to suppress the activities of the group.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The Ministry of Home Affairs used the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to enact the ban, claiming that the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates pose a “major threat to internal security of the country” and are connected to terrorist organisations like the ISIS.
• Centre also mentioned, they also promote “anti-national sentiments… radicalise a particular section of society with the intention of creating disaffection.”
• The MHA designated the Popular Front of India (PFI) as a “unlawful association” along with “its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala,” claiming that it was “necessary to curb the nefarious activities” of the organisation.
• The SDPI, the PFI’s political wing, was excluded from the ban.
• After the ban, the Popular Front of India (PFI) made an announcement that it was breaking apart.
• The PFI and its affiliates’ designation as “unlawful associations” gives law enforcement organisations the right to detain PFI members, freeze their accounts, and seize their assets.
Section 10 of the UAPA:
• According to Section 10 of the UAPA, membership in a banned organisation is illegal.
• According to the Section 10 of the UAPA, belonging to an organisation that is prohibited carries a minimum two-year sentence and, in some cases, a life sentence or even the death penalty.
• According to Section 10, anyone who “is and continues to be a member of such association; participates in such association’s meetings; contributes to, receives, or solicits any contribution for the benefit of such association; or in any other manner assists the operations of such association shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
• Anyone who supports the goals of the prohibited organisation is likewise subject to it.
• Section 7 of the UAPA’s grants the government the authority to “prohibit use of funds” by an “illegal group.”
Power of the Central Government as per the law:
• According to the law, if the Central Government is satisfied following an investigation that “any person has custody of any moneys, securities, or credits which are being used or are intended to be used for the purpose of the unlawful association, the Central Government may, by order in writing, prohibit such person from paying, delivering, transferring, or otherwise dealing in any manner.”
• Centre has the power as per the law to ban the person if found with such moneys, securities, or credits or with any other moneys, securities, or credits.
• It also grant law enforcement organisations the authority to conduct searches of these organisations’ offices and inspect their financial records.
• The Center is authorised to “notify any place which in its opinion is used for the purpose of such unlawful organisation” under Section 8 of the UAPA.
• The term “place” in this context refers to a home, a building, or a portion of one, as well as to a tent or a vessel.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

6. THE JALDOOT APP

THE CONTEXT: The Indian government recently launched the JALDOOT App and JALDOOT App e-brochure.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The JALDOOT application was jointly developed by union ministries of Panchayat and Rural Development.
• This app can be used by Gram Rojgar Sahayak to measure the water level in a well twice a year before and after monsoon.
• It enables the systematic collection of data on ground water levels and storing them in central digital database for analysis.
• This data can be used for the implementation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
• Using this app, water levels of 2 to 3 wells in a village will be captured.
• The water levels in open wells will be measured twice a year – from May 1 to 31 as pre-monsoon water level and again from October 1 to 31 as post-monsoon level.
• Jaldoots (officers involved in measuring the water levels), will upload the geo-tagged photograph through the app on every occasion of measurement.
• The application would work both online and offline mode. In the offline mode, Jaldoots will be able to capture the water level even without internet connections and the captured date will be stored in the mobile. When the app comes online, the data will be uploaded and synchronized with the central server.
• The data in this application will be stored in the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC), which will help in the creation of various reports through comprehensive assessment and analysis.
VALUE ADDITION:
About National Water Informatics Centre
National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) is the central repository that stores data regarding the availability of water resource across India. Set up in 2018, it comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Department of Water Resources. This central repository enables the data-based sustainable development and management of water resources in India.

1. FREE WILL IS the ABILITY TO choose READ MORE
2. Saying sorry READ MORE

1. Bengaluru, Lucknow flooding: What do we mean by water-sensitive cities? READ MORE  
2. In nature’s warning signs, a nudge to riparian states READ MORE

1. The future of old times READ MORE
2. SPOTLIGHT – ON THE HIJAB READ MORE
3. PM SHRI schools reimagine education in India READ MORE

1. Appealing the PFI ban: How UAPA tribunal works READ MORE
2. Jurisprudence Shifts from the Rights Regime READ MORE
3. The need for revising the age of consent under the POCSO Act READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Centre extends free ration scheme by three months READ MORE
2. Lt Gen Anil Chauhan appointed Chief of Defence Staff READ MORE
3. Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince is named prime minister READ MORE
4. ASI discovers 26 ancient caves in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve READ MORE
5. Uttar Pradesh plans its 4th tiger reserve in Bundelkhand READ MORE
6. Handful of agrifood giants control global food markets, warns report READ MORE
7. Methane emission to rise 13% by 2030 without global pledge, claims Kerry READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Bengaluru, Lucknow flooding: What do we mean by water-sensitive cities? READ MORE  
2. The future of old times READ MORE
3. SPOTLIGHT – ON THE HIJAB READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Appealing the PFI ban: How UAPA tribunal works READ MORE
2. Jurisprudence Shifts from the Rights Regime READ MORE
3. The need for revising the age of consent under the POCSO Act READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. PM SHRI schools reimagine education in India READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Rediscovering the Bay of Bengal: The Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies will strengthen India’s overall framework for maritime engagement READ MORE
2.  G-20 presidency is an opportunity to position India as the voice of the Global South READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Automation has impacted lower-level jobs in banks READ MORE
2. What the draft telecom policy intends to regulate READ MORE
3. Simple GST structure can check tax evasion READ MORE
4. Foreign trade: Going beyond a phrase READ MORE
5. It is time to make employment benefits more inclusive READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT

1. In nature’s warning signs, a nudge to riparian states READ MORE

SECURITY

1. National security must be priority READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. How this cyclone intensity estimation technique saved millions of lives across continents READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. FREE WILL IS the ABILITY TO choose READ MORE
2. Saying sorry READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Regional marine entities should strive to balance opportunities and goals on a national, regional, and international scale. Discuss why Rediscovering of the Bay of Bengal is vital to strengthen India’s overall framework for maritime engagement?
2. In recent times, the issue of climate refuges has become a major challenge against the world community. Discuss the issues associated with this challenge and how the international communities can address them?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Most great learning happens in groups. Collaboration is the stuff of growth.
• With the devastating effects of climate change visible, riparian states across the world must comply with all the procedural duties pursuant to the ‘no harm rule’.
• Working together is important due to shared nautical concerns and the complexity of the marine environment.
• Regional marine entities should strive to balance opportunities and goals on a national, regional, and international scale.
• The Indian elite and foreign policy commentariat, influenced heavily by Western thinking on world affairs, have acquired an exaggerated view of Indian global influence, hitching their wagons to the West rather than stay the course with the South.
• The Centre gave strong reasons in its order banning PFI. Now, all governments need to ensure vigilance.
• India must establish that it can create and consolidate economic, human and strategic security, maintain social harmony and bestow more largesse on neighbours compared to China.
• A politically and socially harmonious India could set an example to its neighbours; a divided and high-handed one raises concerns about their own security.
• The existing GST structures, along with the prevailing income tax slabs and exemptions, need urgent revision to rid our nation’s tax system of anomalies.

50-WORD TALK

• No amount of obfuscation in the alleged Uttarakhand blackmail, murder of Ankita Bhandari can hide what is undoubtedly a high-power sleaze racket at the resort. It’ll be a shame if political connections protect the guilty. PM Modi campaigned on women’s safety issues, he must ensure BJP members abide by it.
• The ban on Popular Front of India will choke global networks recruiting Indians into jihad. PFI should never have been allowed to grow this strong in the first place. Extremist groups like PFI, SIMI flourish primarily because of the vacuum in political leadership, not just because of poverty or unemployment.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

[WpProQuiz 343]

THE CONTEXT: Recently, in an unfortunate incident, an office of Haryana police was mowed down by a dumper as he was trying to stop illegal mining. His death again highlighted the issue of illegal mining in the country and started a debate about the same. In this article, we will analyze the issue in detail and will try to give way forward to stop such activities.

HOW DEEP THE ILLEGAL MINING IN INDIA

• Haryana officer murder is only the latest in a string of killings of activists, journalists, law enforcers and whistle-blowers trying to uncover the menace of illegal mining in India.
• Stones, coal, iron, and other minerals and more frequently, and are illegally mined in India. The murders are usually carried out by the mafia, which in turn, are connected to powerful political leaders.
• According to data collected by SANDRP — South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, five journalists/activists, 11 government officials, and 23 citizens/villages / farmers have been killed since January 2019 due to illegal sand mining in India.
• According to the last report of the National Crime Records Bureau released in 2020, 61,767 environment-related offences were committed in India.
• Of these, 199 offences related to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) were committed across the 29 states of the country. Maharashtra (33 offences), Meghalaya (93) and Uttar Pradesh (68) recorded the highest number of NGT-related offences.

Death toll in India due to illegal sand mining since January 2019 

WHY ILLEGAL MINING IN INDIA

India has grossly underestimated the issue of illegal mining, which damages the environment and causes revenue loss

• With the increase in the pace of development, the demand for minor minerals such as sand and gravel has crossed 60 million metric tons in India. This also makes it the second largest extractive industry on the planet, after water.
• However, while laws and monitoring have been made stringent for the mining of major minerals consequent to the unearthing of several related scams across the country, the fact is that rampant and illegal mining of minor minerals continues unabated.
• In many instances, one comes across gravel being removed from agricultural lands or fallow lands of the government near major highways or construction projects, as the contractor finds it easier and cheaper to do so even though the estimates for such work include the distance (called ‘lead’) to transport such gravel from authorised quarries.

Issue of regulation

• Unlike major minerals, the regulatory and administrative powers to frame rules, prescribe rates of royalty, mineral concessions, enforcement, etc., are entrusted exclusively to the State governments.
• The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notifications of 1994 and 2006 made environmental clearance compulsory for mining in areas more than or equal to five hectares.
• However, the Supreme Court of India, after taking cognisance of a report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Environmental Aspects of Quarrying of Minor Minerals (2010) directed all State governments to make the requisite changes in the regulatory framework of minor minerals, requiring environmental clearance for mining in areas less than five hectares.
• Consequently, the EIA was amended in 2016, which made environmental clearance mandatory for mining in areas less than five hectares, including minor minerals.
• The amendment also provided for the setting up of a District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) and a District Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).
• However, a State-wise review of EACs and EIAAs in key industrial States such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu shows that these authorities review over 50 project proposals in a day and the rejection rate at the State level has been a mere 1%.
• This raises a pertinent question on whether introducing clearances alone can help eliminate irregularities in the illegal mining of minor minerals. The situation now indicates that the problem is even more complex and widespread and that a robust technology-driven enforcement approach is required.

The problem has not been taken seriously

• The problem of illegal mining of minor minerals is often under-estimated, thus accentuating undesired environmental consequences. There have been numerous cases of the illegal mining of dolomite, marble and sand across the States. For example, in Andhra Pradesh’s Konanki limestone quarries alone, 28.92 lakh metric tonnes of limestone have been illegally quarried. However, the relentless pace of sand mining.

Apart from the above, there are many other reasons for such activities

• There is a lack of coordination within the Ministry of Environment and forests which led to illegalities and consequential ecological damage.
• There is also a lack of timely checks by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).
• The boundary markings of the leased-out area are not clearly defined.
• One of the reasons that illegal mining thrives is the lack of timely renewals for mining.
• The responsibility is on the mine owners, who do not apply in time, and also on the various regulatory authorities where the applications are not processed in time.

WHAT ARE THE OBSERVATIONS BY AGENCIES?

• The United Nations Environment Programme, in 2019, ranked India and China as the top two countries where illegal sand mining has led to sweeping environmental degradation. Despite this, there is no comprehensive assessment available to evaluate the scale of sand mining in India.
• Nevertheless, regional studies such as those by the Centre for Science and Environment of the Yamuna riverbed in Uttar Pradesh have observed that increasing demand for soil has severely affected soil formation and the soil holding ability of the land, leading to a loss in marine life, an increase in flood frequency, droughts, and also degradation of water quality.
• Such effects can also be seen in the beds of the Godavari, the Narmada and the Mahanadi basins. As has been pointed out in a study of the Narmada basin, sand mining has reduced the population of Mahseer fish from 76% between 1963 and 2015.

IMPACTS OF ILLEGAL MINING

• Economic loss to the state exchequer as there is no royalty to be paid.
• Excessive sand mining can alter the riverbed, force the river to change course, erode banks and lead to flooding. It also destroys the habitat of aquatic animals and micro-organisms, besides affecting groundwater recharge.
• Illegal mining activities were identified as the cause of environmental problems such as water pollution, deforestation, poor soil fertility and limited access to land for agriculture productivity.
• It is not just damaging to the environment. Illegal mining causes copious losses to the state exchequer.
• As per an estimate, U.P. is losing revenue from 70% of mining activities as only 30% area is legally mined.
• Similarly, the absence of royalty has caused a loss of ₹700 crore in Bihar, while non-payment of various cesses due to unregulated mining resulted in a loss of ₹100 crore to Karnataka and ₹600 crore to Madhya Pradesh in 2016-17.
• Aravalli and Western Ghat are the two examples of illegal mining:
• Aravalli Hills:Illegal mining in Aravalli hills is rampant because it has a rich reserve of copper, lead, zinc, rock phosphate, soapstone, silica sand, limestone, marble and gypsum.The water ecology has been changing due to the illegal mining activities. Although many lakes in the Aravalli hills skirting south Delhi may be disappearing, but some new water bodies are popping up in the region that has been ravaged by mining in recent years. These water bodies have filled the depressions left by mine contractors.
• Western Ghat: Reports indicate that at least 5,000 quarries, both legal and illegal, operate in the Western Ghats. It appears 60 percent of them are illegal. Some of them are run by politicians, a few them members of the Legislative assembly, or their friends and relatives.Heavy rains flooded river basins and its impact was compounded by reckless construction along riverbanks. Watersheds, ponds and farmlands were flattened for construction activities.

WHAT ARE THE JUDICIAL INTERVENTIONS, AND WHAT WAS THE STATE RESPONSE?

• Judicial orders are often neglected by State governments.
• For instance, as in the report of the Oversight Committee by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Uttar Pradesh (where illegal sand mining has created a severe hazard) has either failed or only partially complied with orders issued regarding compensation for illegal sand mining. Such lax compliance can be seen in States such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh too.
• A State-wide review of the reasons behind non-compliance suggests a malfunction of governance due to weak institutions, a scarcity of state resources to ensure enforcement, poorly drafted regulatory provisions, inadequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and excessive litigation that dampens state administrative capacity.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE WAY FORWARD?

• Protecting minor minerals requires investment in production and consumption measurement and also monitoring and planning tools. To this end, technology has to be used to provide a sustainable solution.
• Satellite imagery can be used to monitor the volume of extraction and also check the mining process. Even for past infractions, the NGT and administrative authorities can obtain satellite pictures for the past 10 to 15 years and uncontrovertibly show how small hillocks of earth, gravel or small stone dunes have disappeared in an area. Recently, the NGT directed some States to use satellite imagery to monitor the volume of sand extraction and transportation from the riverbeds. Well-planned execution of these directions increased revenue from minor minerals mining in all these States.
• Additionally, drones, the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain technology can be leveraged to monitor mechanisms by using the Global Positioning System, radar and Radio Frequency (RF) Locator. State governments such as Gujarat and judicial directions such as the High Court of Madras have employed some of these technologies to check illegal sand mining.
• The state governments and the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) should coordinate better to see that the mine production sums up with the mining plan.
• Protecting minor minerals requires investment in production and consumption measurement and also monitoring and planning tools.

THE CONCLUSION: Illegal mining has become a serious issue in India. The incidents related to illegal mining, like the death of officers and tragedies, are daily events. Apart from it, impacts on the environment and   Economic loss to the state exchequer are some other negatives of such activities. Government should come up with strong regulations to stop it, and technology should be used to monitor these activities.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Discuss how the use of technology can be a game changer in stopping illegal mining in India.

Why the issue of illegal mining persists in India? What should be the way forward to stop such activities?