To end illegal mining, Madhya Pradesh plans to make it legal in parts of Chambal sanctuary

Context

To free its forest department from devoting too much time, resources, and efforts in fighting illegal mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary, the Madhya Pradesh government has proposed to open 292 hectares for mining in five stretches on Chambal and its tributary Parvati rivers. 

About the Sanctuary

• The National Chambal Sanctuary was set up in 1979 as a riverine sanctuary along an approximately 425 km length of the Chambal River and its ravines stretching over 2-6 km wide along the river.
• The area of National Chambal Sanctuary was established as a river sanctuary with a length of about 425 km. 
• Three-State: The National Chambal Sanctuary area is spread over three states, which include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. 
  
  
• The width of both sides of the Chambal River sanctuaryis about 2-6 km. 
• Near Ranthambore, till Bhind, the Chambal River forms a primary state border, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are on one side and Madhya Pradesh is on the other side. 
• This riverine Sanctuary starts from Kota Barrage in Rajasthan. Chambal River flows in the northern and southern part of Rajasthan and its course is through Sawai Madhopur. In the next section, the Chambal River sanctuary covers Morena in Madhya Pradesh and Dholpur of Rajasthan. 
• Total Sanctuary area is approximately 285 sq. km in Rajasthan.

Important Species

• National Chambal Sanctuary is the main area for the species reintroduction programmme of the crocodilian species Gavialis gangeticus (Gharial).
• Chambal supports the largest population of Gharials in the wild.