In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the National Green Tribunal's decision quashing an e-auction notice for sand mining in Uttar Pradesh issued in February 2023. The case established that a valid, subsisting District Survey Report (DSR)—not a draft—is mandatory before granting environmental clearance for sand mining. The previous DSR expired in 2022, and only a draft existed when the auction was announced. The Court held that DSR preparation, strictly following prescribed procedures in the EIA Notification 2006, is a prerequisite condition, valid for five years. The judgment emphasizes sustainable sand mining through strict regulation, balancing development with environmental conservation and ecosystem protection.
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