Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

Ashok, an IAS officer in a riverine district, faces rampant illegal sand mining fueled by local contractors, transporters, and political patrons. Despite monsoon bans and strict environmental regulations, mining causes riverbank erosion, groundwater depletion, ecological damage, road accidents, and revenue loss. Enforcement efforts face resistance, threats, and political pressure, while judiciary, media, and civil society demand compliance, transparency, and sustainable solutions, creating a complex ethical and administrative dilemma.

Body:

A.Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Ashok

• Conflict Between Law Enforcement and Political Pressure :
  • Ashok must enforce environmental laws while facing resistance from politically influential actors.
  • Yielding to pressure risks compromising administrative integrity, while strict enforcement could attract political retaliation.
• Safety vs. Duty:
  • Officers in Ashok’s team face threats to personal safety.
  • Ethical leadership requires protecting his team while ensuring justice, presenting a dilemma between moral responsibility and practical security concerns.
• Development vs. Environmental Protection:
  • The state government emphasizes infrastructure needs, pressuring Ashok to avoid confrontation.
  • Prioritizing short-term development over environmental sustainability raises questions of intergenerational justice.
• Transparency vs. Administrative Pragmatism :
  • Media and civil society demand transparency, but revealing full enforcement actions may escalate tensions.
  • Ashok must balance accountability with maintaining law and order.

B. Options Available and Their Consequences

• Strict Enforcement
  • Actions: Continue raids, FIRs, and vehicle seizures.
  • Consequences: Upholds the rule of law and environmental protection; may provoke political backlash, threaten officers’ safety, and create short-term unrest.
• Political Compliance
  • Actions: Reduce enforcement to appease government and local actors.
  • Consequences: Minimizes immediate conflict and maintains “harmony,” but undermines legal duty, ecological sustainability, and long-term governance credibility.
• Mediation and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Actions: Involve local communities, contractors, and environmental experts to find regulated sand mining solutions.
  • Consequences: May reduce direct confrontation and build consensus; however, risks partial compliance and slower ecological recovery.

C.Recommended Course of Action

• Balanced Enforcement with Strategic Alliances: Ashok should adopt a principled yet pragmatic approach: enforce laws strictly while ensuring officer safety, documenting all actions, and using judicial support to legitimise operations.
  • Public Engagement: Issue public advisories, conduct awareness campaigns about environmental consequences, and involve civil society in monitoring to reduce misinformation and build legitimacy.
  • Judicial Backing: Utilise court directives to strengthen enforcement, ensuring political resistance cannot easily obstruct legal obligations.

D.Long-Term Systemic Reforms

• Digital Monitoring and Regulation: Implement GPS tracking for sand transport, digital permits, and e-auction systems to curb illegal mining.
• Community-Based Resource Management: Empower local Gram Sabhas and riverine communities to monitor extraction, incentivising sustainable practices.
• Alternative Materials and Construction Practices: Promote the use of manufactured sand, recycled aggregates, and eco-friendly construction to reduce demand pressure on natural rivers.
• Strict Penalties and Anti-Corruption Measures: Introduce stringent fines, license cancellations, and prosecution for violators, alongside whistleblower protections for officers.
• Capacity Building: Train enforcement officers in environmental law, risk management, and stakeholder negotiation to strengthen administrative resilience.

Conclusion:

Ashok’s challenge lies at the intersection of ethics, administration, and environmental stewardship. By enforcing laws with transparency, ensuring officer safety, and engaging stakeholders, he can address immediate crises while enabling sustainable governance. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The future depends on what you do today.” Ashok’s principled action will ensure a just and sustainable environment for future generations.