In Brief
The Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the National Green Tribunal's order requiring District Survey Reports (DSRs) for sand mining in Bihar to be prepared by private consultants. The Court held that DSRs should instead be prepared by State Government sub-divisional committees using site visits and modern technology, while permitting sand mining activities through Bihar State Mining Corporation to continue pending approval of compliant DSRs. The Court adopted a balanced approach to prevent illegal mining and protect public revenue while ensuring environmental safeguards are maintained through rigorous SEAC and SEIAA appraisal following January 2020 guidelines.
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