Patna High Court on Tuesday directed the state to file a reply stating the action it has taken till date against the sand mafia active in the state.

A division bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Anil Kumar Upadhyay passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Sunil Kumar Singh.

In his petition Singh had alleged that rampant illegal sand mining was on in Patna and in other districts of the state, which was hazardous for the environment. The petitioner had alleged that the administrative machinery has failed to curb the menace.

Appearing on behalf of the state, principal additional advocate-general (PAAG) Lalit Kishor on Tuesday told the court that the government has taken several measures recently to tame the mafia.

"In the past one week, the government has acted swiftly initiating several steps to curb illegal sand mining. Legal actions have been taken on a large scale against the violators across the state and hundreds have been arrested," Kishor said.

Several station house officers have also been suspended who were accused of acting in connivance with the sand mafia, Kishor told the court on Tuesday. He assured the bench that the violators will not be spared as the state is going to take tougher stand in the coming days.

The court earlier, seeing the seriousness of the matter, had summoned the district magistrate and superintendent of police of Bhojpur and sought reply from DIG central zone, Patna, Rajesh Kumar, directing him to investigate the matter and submit a report before the court in this regard. The court in its order had said it cannot overlook the seriousness of the issue.

The report submitted by the DIG had talked of illegal mining going on in the state. The court had then said: "Despite the matter being of great importance, the court is of the opinion that the authorities concerned are treating it in a casual manner."

The court then directed the state to act sternly against those involved in the business.

The court order further reads: "It is a sad comment on the state of affairs as the authorities are required to be vigilant and take action and discharge their duty suo motu and not at the prodding of a private citizen. In the instance case, the issue relating to illegal sand mining and transportation, in fact, amounts to plundering of natural resources resulting in huge loss to the public exchequer, has persuaded the court to take judicial note of the prevailing situation."

The court also gets the impression that illegal sand mining is rampant and may very well be in connivance with the authorities and persons who have some semblance of a legal cover to get away with illegality along with their activity under a valid licence, the order read.

Following the court order, the police launched a drive against the violators, arresting many, though mining still continued, a point also raised by the petitioner before the bench. On this the bench on Tuesday directed the state government to file a comprehensive report stating the actions taken against the violators.