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Chambal illegal mining: Chief Secretary orders digital watch on 40 sensitive spots and chargesheets

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Editor's note: TrendDesh reported a review of illegal gravel mining in the Chambal gharial sanctuary on 15 October. This report covers the state-level committee meeting on 21 October.

Chambal illegal mining will face tougher action, including round-the-clock digital monitoring of 40 highly sensitive spots along the river, after a State Level Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting chaired by Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas at the Secretariat in Jaipur on 21 October 2026, the state’s DIPR said.

Chambal illegal mining: Officials at the state-level meeting on illegal mining in the Chambal river at the Secretariat, Jaipur
Officials at the state-level meeting on illegal mining in the Chambal river at the Secretariat, Jaipur Photo: DIPR Rajasthan (official handout, free to use with credit).

Digital monitoring of 40 Chambal river spots

The Chief Secretary asked for a digital display board at Aranya Bhawan to keep the 40 most sensitive locations under constant watch, modelled on the Abhay Command Centre, with weekly reviews so illegal mining can be stopped in time. He directed regular inspection and supervision of the patrolling posts set up along the Chambal and told departments to work together to strengthen monitoring. He also asked officials to coordinate with police in neighbouring states against illegal mining. He said all departments concerned must work in coordination to curb illegal mining effectively.

Key Facts

  • Meeting: State Level Coordination and Monitoring Committee
  • Date: 21 October 2026, Secretariat, Jaipur
  • Chaired by: Chief Secretary V. Srinivas
  • Digital watch: 40 highly sensitive spots
  • Districts: Karauli, Kota, Bundi, Dholpur, Sawai Madhopur

Chargesheets, not only fines, for Chambal illegal mining

Srinivas said action against vehicles used in illegal gravel mining should not stop at challans. Depending on the case and the evidence, officers must file chargesheets and take other legal action as per the rules, he said. He also asked for a review of the policy promoting M-sand, or manufactured sand, as an alternative building material and steps to implement it well. Protecting the environment and natural resources is a state government priority and every department must act responsibly, he said, according to DIPR. M-sand, made by crushing rock, is promoted as a substitute for river sand in construction, which reduces demand for gravel dug from riverbeds. The digital display board is to be modelled on the Abhay Command Centre so that alerts from the 40 sites can be acted on quickly, according to the directions.

Districts report on special task forces

Deputy conservators of forests from Karauli, Kota, Bundi, Dholpur and Sawai Madhopur gave detailed presentations on work done by special task forces headed by district collectors. The meeting was attended by Mines and Petroleum Additional Chief Secretary Aparna Arora, Transport Principal Secretary Bhawani Singh Detha, Revenue Principal Secretary T. Ravikant, Head of Forest Force Arijit Banerjee, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P.K. Upadhyay and Additional PCCF K.C. Arun Prasad, along with the collectors, superintendents of police and deputy conservators of the five districts. TrendDesh reported on 15 October on an earlier review of illegal gravel mining in the Chambal gharial sanctuary area around Kota. The 21 October meeting brought the forest, mines, transport, revenue and police officials of all five districts together at the state level.

Why It Matters: The Chambal runs through the five districts named at the meeting, and the order to file chargesheets signals a shift from routine fines to criminal cases.

Also on TrendDesh: Chambal Gharial Sanctuary: Rajasthan orders check posts, GPS curbs to stop illegal gravel mining · Kota Dussehra Mela 2026: Om Birla watches 105-ft Ravan burn at the 133rd National Dussehra Fair

Source: DIPR Rajasthan (Chief Secretary's Office), 21 Oct 2026 · Rajasthan Forest Department · Department of Mines and Geology, Rajasthan

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