Jharkhand chief minister restores power of panchayats over sand mining

Decision follows meeting with coalition partners who threatened to withdraw support

Sand mining lobby uses tricks to evade MoEF scrutiny

Ministry panel visiting Greater Noida finds even leased mining areas do not have any environment clearance

Regulating small-scale mines below 5 ha

Will National Green Tribunal's restraint order curb haphazard and unscientific mining of minor minerals that includes sand?