In Brief
The State of Bihar challenged a National Green Tribunal order requiring private consultants to prepare District Survey Reports for sand mining before the State could auction mining leases. The Supreme Court held that since government guidelines themselves provide for state government sub-divisional committees to prepare these reports, private consultants are unnecessary and wasteful. The Court allowed limited mining by the State Mining Corporation to continue pending final approval, balancing environmental protection against illegal mining and revenue loss, but directed that procedures strictly follow the 2020 policy guidelines.
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