Owing To Flood Situation In Punjab, High Court Allows De-Silting Of Waterbodies In PIL Alleging Commercial Sand Mining

In light of the ongoing flood situation in Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has permitted de-silting operations in the State while hearing a PIL alleging illegal commercial sand mining.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry said, "considering the present day situation owing to the floods in the State of Punjab and in the interest of justice and also taking into account the aforesaid assurance of learned Advocate General Punjab, this Court subject to outcome in this petition allows the State of Punjab and its functionaries to proceed further towards finalization of impugned e-tenders...subject however to the strict adherence to guidelines laid down by Government of India Ministry of Environment and Climate Change dated 12.07.2023...and also Detailed Project Report."

Advocate General, Punjab Maninderjeet Singh Bedi prayed that keeping in view the situation in Punjab owing to recent floods, the finalization of the e-tenders for de-silting project is necessary for the purpose of de-silting and as sought permission of the Court.

He further assured that finalization of aforesaid e-tenders shall be carried out in consonance with and in terms of guidelines issued by Government of India Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

The PIL filed by Sehajpreet Singh, represented by Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh, submitted that the Punjab Government's Department of Mines and Geology is seeking to carry out commercial sand mining under the guise of “de-silting” in the State, allowing its functionaries to excavate and sell minor minerals without obtaining Environmental Clearance in its name and without securing consent to operate from the Punjab Pollution Control Board.It was submitted that the petitioner is aggrieved by the action of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority which is acting in connivance with the department and is allowing the illegal action of the State and is also issuing illegal permissions from time to time against it's legal mandate of providing environmental clearances strictly in accordance with law.

The matter is now listed for October 26, for further consideration.

Mr. Gurminder Singh, Sr. Advocate, with Mr. R.P.S. Bara, Advocate for the petitioner in CWP-PIL-184-2025.

Mr. Anil Saini, Advocate for Mr. Munish Gupta, Advocate for the petitioner in CWP-PIL-100-2022.

Mr. Maninderjeet Singh Bedi, Advocate General, Punjab with Mr. Rajeev Madan, DAG, Punjab for the State of Punjab.

Mr. Vipin Pal Yadav, Addl. A.G. Punjab.

Mr. Jastej Singh, Advocate for respondent No.2 (in CWP-PIL-184-2025).

Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India, with Mr. Dheeraj Jain and Ashish Rawal, Advocates for UOI.

Mr. J.S. Lalli, Deputy Solicitor General of India with Mr. Manish Verma, Advocate for respondent/SEIAA (in CWP-29652-2022, CWP-PIL-95-2022, CWP-PIL-100- 2022, CWP-PIL-102-2022 and CWP-PIL-104-2022).

Ms. Puneeta Sethi, Senior Panel Counsel for UOI with Mr. Y.S. Thakur ADvocate in CWP-29652-2022.

Mr. Ashish Verma, Advocate for respondent No. 10 (PPCB).

Title: Sehajpreet Singh v. UOI

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