JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court asked the district collectors to furnish action taken report on black marketeers and smugglers of bajri in the state by July 30.The single bench of Justice SP Sharma issued the order on a petition by one Sanjay Kumar Garg.The high court in May this year had directed district collectors to form SITs and conduct raids where bajri is smuggled and black marketed for construction. It had also directed to penalize the builders who violate the SC ban while staying the short-term permit for sand on agriculture land issued by the government. Bajri (sand) mining is banned in the state following a SC order.In an application filed by the petitioner on Friday said sand mining is going unhindered despite the ban by the by the SC ban and the high court directions. He said the officials have turned a blind eye to the illegal activity going on in the state.He said mining, transportation and stocking of bajri is going on freely in connivance with the officials.The court then directed the collectors to submit action taken on the illegal bajri smugglers. The report should consist of the number of FIRs registered, fines imposed and seizures of the material and vehicles. The court also directed the DGP to furnish the details of the cases registered under 379 IPC (theft).The court had earlier said despite the Supreme Court orders mandating scientific replenishment study and environmental clearance as a precondition for excavating and mining of bajri, the short-term permits (STPs) are being granted by state authorities to excavate and mining of bajri without any replenishment study.The court said the very purpose of replenishment would be redundant if the agricultural land nearby to the river sites where bajri is available or in the agricultural lands can be excavated and mining activities are allowed.

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