**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses a Lok Sabha Starred Question regarding the impact of illegal sand mining on the Godavari riverbank in the Warangal district of Telangana, afforestation projects under the National Mission for a Green India, measures to protect Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary, and funds allocated for ecotourism in Warangal's forest areas. The response, provided by the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, clarifies the roles of state and central governments in addressing these issues. It references existing regulations, guidelines, and monitoring efforts. The document is dated July 21, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Illegal Sand Mining:**
* Sand is classified as a minor mineral, and state governments are primarily responsible for regulating and preventing illegal mining.
* The Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) has not received any complaints regarding illegal sand mining on the Godavari riverbanks.
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has not conducted a specific study on the impact of illegal sand mining on the Godavari river banks in the Warangal district of Telangana.
* The central government supports state efforts through policy initiatives, technological interventions like the Mining Surveillance System (MSS), and guidelines such as the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMG) and Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining (EMGSM).
* **National Mission for a Green India:**
* Telangana has not submitted a Perspective Plan under the Green India Mission (GIM) and is not currently participating.
* No afforestation projects have been undertaken in the Warangal region under the National Mission for a Green India.
* **Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary Protection:**
* The Wetlands Conservation and Management Rules 2017 delegate conservation and management powers to State/UT wetland authorities and State Governments/UT Administrations.
* An Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary was notified on 30.11.2016, prohibiting certain activities like commercial mining and polluting industries.
* Measures being taken include retrieval of encroached areas, prosecution of encroachment cases, planting in retrieval areas, regular perambulation, awareness programs, and a ban on plastic use at the Pakhal Lake ecotourism area.
* Rs. 274 lakhs has been allocated for ecorestoration works at Pakhal under the Harithanidhi scheme.
* Water samples are being collected from Pakhal lake every month under the National Water Monitoring Programme.
* **Ecotourism Promotion:**
* The Ministry issued guidelines on sustainable ecotourism in forest and wildlife areas in 2021.
* Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs under the "Development of Wildlife Habitats" scheme, which includes support for ecotourism activities.
* No funds have been allocated to Telangana for ecotourism under this scheme during the last one year and the current year.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State Governments (Telangana):**
* *Impact:* Primarily responsible for regulating and preventing illegal sand mining and for the conservation and management of wetlands. Telangana has not participated in the Green India Mission, and no specific funds were allocated for ecotourism.
* *Action Required:* Enforce regulations on illegal sand mining, consider submitting a Perspective Plan under the GIM, and continue conservation efforts for Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary.
* **Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for monitoring and addressing complaints related to illegal sand mining and water quality in Pakhal Lake.
* *Action Required:* Continue monitoring water quality in Pakhal Lake and address any future complaints regarding illegal sand mining.
* **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):**
* *Impact:* Provides policy support, guidelines, and financial assistance to state governments for environmental conservation and management.
* *Action Required:* Continue to support state governments through policy initiatives, technological interventions, and financial assistance programs.
* **Ministry of Mines:**
* *Impact:* Supports state enforcement mechanisms through amendments to the MMDR Act and the development of the Mining Surveillance System (MSS).
* *Action Required:* Continue to support state governments in detecting and curbing illegal mining activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Godavari riverbank, Telangana: Riverine area in the Warangal district of Telangana, subject to illegal sand mining.
Warangal district, Telangana: District in Telangana, India, mentioned in the context of illegal sand mining and afforestation projects.
National Mission for a Green India: One of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change focused on increasing forest cover.
Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary: Protected area in Telangana, subject to encroachments and pollution.
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957: Indian legislation under which sand is classified as a minor mineral.
Mineral Concession Rules, 2016: Rules notified under MMDR Act, 1957 by Ministry of Mines.
Mining Surveillance System: System developed by the Ministry of Mines to check illegal mining activities.
Telangana Pollution Control Board: State agency responsible for monitoring pollution, including that related to sand mining.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 19
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Impact of Illegal Sand Mining
*19. DR. KADIYAM KAVYA
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any study on the impact of illegal sand mining
on the Godavari riverbank in erstwhile Warangal district of Telangana and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the details of the afforestation projects undertaken in the said district under the National
Mission for a Green India;
(c) the measures taken/being taken to protect the Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary from
encroachments and pollution; and
(d) the funds allocated for promoting eco-tourism in Warangal’s forest areas during the last
year and the current year?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
***Statement Referred to in Reply to paras (a) to (d) Lok Sabha Starred
Question No.*19 due for reply on 21.07.2025 (Monday) regarding “Impact
of Illegal Sand Mining” by Dr. Kadiyam Kavya
(a) Sand is classified as a minor mineral under Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals
(Development and Regulation) [MMDR] Act, 1957. Illegal mining is defined in Mineral
Concession Rules, 2016 notified under MMDR Act, 1957 by Ministry of Mines. In terms of
section 15 and Section 23C of the MMDR Act, the power to regulate, monitor, and prevent
illegal mining of minor minerals, including sand, rests with the respective State Governments.
As per the information provided by the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB), no
complaint regarding illegal sand mining on the Godavari river banks has been received by
them. As per the information available in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, no specific study has been conducted on the impact of illegal sand mining on the
Godavari river banks in the erstwhile Warangal district of Telangana.
The Central Government, through policy initiatives and technological interventions,
supplements the efforts of State Governments in addressing the issues of illegal sand mining.
The Ministry of Mines, has taken several steps to support State enforcement mechanisms,
including the amendment of the MMDR Act in 2015 to introduce stringent punitive provisions,
mandatory registration and reporting under Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and
Development Rules (MCDR). Ministry of Mines has also developed the Mining Surveillance
System (MSS) to check illegal mining activities around mining leases and to assist the State
Governments to detect and curb illegal mining activities.
MoEFCC has issued Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMG), 2016 and
Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining (EMGSM), 2020 for providing
sustainable sand mining and for prevention of illegal sand mining through monitoring
mechanism by respective State Governments.Procedures for replenishment study and
preparation of district survey report have been provided in the SSMG, 2016 and EMGSM.
2020. These studies and reports can lead to systematic, scientific and environment friendly
sand mining, if properly followed.
(b) National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the eight Missions under the National
Action Plan on Climate Change. It provides funding support to increase the forest/tree cover
and improve quality of existing forest, based on the perspective plans submitted by the States
in accordance with the guidelines of GIM. The state of Telangana has not submitted their
Perspective Plan under GIM and is hence presently not participating in the Green India
Mission. As per inputs received from the State Forest Department, Telangana, no afforestation
projects have been undertaken in the Warangal region under the National Mission for a Green
India.
(c) The MoEF&CC has notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017,
for effective conservation and management of wetlands in the country. Under these Rules, the
powers & functions for conservation and management of wetlands were delegated to the
State/UT wetland authorities and the State Governments/UT Administrations.
MoEFCC has notified the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary on
30.11.2016 which provides for certain prohibited activities within ESZ including commercial
mining, polluting industries, major hydroelectric projects, production of hazardous substances,
discharge of untreated effluents in natural water bodies or land area,etc.Based on the inputs received from the State Forest Department, Telangana, the following
measures are being taken for protection of Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary from the
encroachments and pollution:
i. Retrieval of encroached areas
ii. Prosecution of encroachment cases U/s 20 of Telangana Forest Act, 1967.
iii. Planting in the encroachment retrieval areas.
iv. Regular Perambulation to prevent encroachments of forest areas and Wildlife poaching
activities
v. Awareness programs conducted to control wildlife poaching and encroachments in
Wildlife Sanctuary area.
vi. Strict ban on plastic use at Eco-tourism area of Pakhal Lake
As per the information received from the Forest Department of Telangana, an amount of Rs.
274 lakhs has been allocated for eco-restoration works at Pakhal under the Harithanidhi
scheme.
As informed by the TGPCB, Regional office, Warangal, water samples are being collected
from Pakhal lake every month under National Water Monitoring Programme.
(d) The Ministry has issued guidelines on sustainable eco-tourism in forest and wildlife areas
in 2021. The Ministry provides financial assistance to States /UTs under the centrally
sponsored scheme “Development of Wildlife Habitats" for conservation and management of
wildlife and development of its habitat, as per the Annual Plan of Operation received from
States/UTs. The activities supported under the scheme includes eco-tourism. No funds have
been allocated to the State of Telangana for ecotourism under the scheme during the last one
year and current year.
***