Hearing a public interest litigation by B K Mohan Kumar who had challenged the use of mechanised boats to extract sand, the Bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice A S Bopanna directed the lease holders to apply for clearance in a week.
Besides, the Department of Environment has been directed to clear the applications by February 25, 2011.
The court also directed that sand quarry lease, which were stalled due to extended injunctions be given an extension before the term expires on March 31, 2011.
Sand mining policy
The court also directed the lease holders to abide by the newly-formulated sand mining policy and the same be filed in the form of an affidavit.
Earlier, during the hearing, the petitioners submitted that the mechanised sand quarry would affect the ground water. However, the Bench refused to buy the argument.
On the question of policy related to sand quarry, R G Kolle, the Government Counsel said that a policy decision on sand mining has been taken by the high-powered committee on January 29, 2011 and the same is placed before the court.
Areas identified
He submitted that 1,600 blocks had been identified for sand quarrying and would be allocated in a phased manner.
He further said that sand quarrying using mechanised boats as per the norms must not be below one metre in the river bed and added that the Department does not have a system of enforcement.