India, Aug. 27 -- The Supreme Court has directed the listing of a plea flagging illegal sand mining in Madhya Pradesh's Ken River, threatening the ecosystem around the Panna Tiger Reserve and Ken Gharial Sanctuary, with suo motu proceedings related to the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary.

Bharat Milan Pandey, a Panna resident, moved the Supreme Court, saying excavators and sand-pulling pumps have been installed for illegal mining brazenly without fear of the law in the Ken River, a major Yamuna tributary and one of the cleanest rivers in Madhya Pradesh. He pointed out that this was happening even though the government has not issued any contract for sand mining.

Pandey said false cases were registered against him and his family after ...