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Context

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) expressed strong dissatisfaction with administrative lapses concerning illegal sand mining in the Kaldiya River, Bajali district, Assam.

About Kaldiya River

• Origin: The river originates in the Himalayan foothills of Bhutan, where it is known as the Bahbari Noi.
• Course in Assam: After entering Assam, it merges with smaller streams like the Baga Nai and takes the name Kaldiya. It flows through the Bajali and Barpeta districts of Lower Assam.
• Tributary System: The Kaldiya is a right-bank tributary of the Pahumara River. This is part of a sequential merger system:
1. The Kaldiya joins the Pahumara River.
2. The combined stream is then known as the Chawlkhowa River, which flows towards Barpeta town.
3. The Chawlkhowa (also called Nakhanda and later Bhelengi) eventually joins the Beki River.
4. The Beki River is a major right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River.

What is Sand Mining?

Sand mining is the extraction of sand and gravel from natural environments such as riverbeds, beaches, ocean floors, and inland dunes.  

Approximately 50 billion tonnes of sand and gravel are used globally each year, an amount that has tripled over the last two decades.  (Source: UNEP).

India's expanding infrastructure and construction sector is projected to contribute about 9% to the GDP in 2025. Annual demand for sand exceeds 1,000 million tonnes, but regulated supply lags, resulting in a large deficit met by illegal extraction.

Environmental Impacts of Unscientific Mining

Riverbed and Bank Destabilization: Excessive sand removal deepens the riverbed, altering water flow and causing severe bank erosion, which destroys farmland and threatens human settlements.

Groundwater Depletion: Riverbed sand, a natural aquifer, filters and stores water that recharges groundwater. Its removal lowers the water table, causing severe scarcity for drinking and irrigation.

Loss of Biodiversity: Sand mining destroys countless aquatic micro-habitats, obliterating nesting and breeding grounds for fish, turtles, and critically endangered species like the Gharial.

Degradation of Water Quality: Mining increases water turbidity, which blocks sunlight and harms aquatic plants. It also releases toxic heavy metals and lowers dissolved oxygen, making the water toxic to aquatic life.

Threat to Infrastructure: Riverbed lowering can weaken the foundations of critical infrastructure like bridges, dams, and embankments, creating a major public safety risk.

Socio-Economic Consequences

Massive Revenue Loss: The illegal sand trade is a massive parallel economy, costing state governments thousands of crores yearly in lost royalties and taxes.

Rise of Criminal Syndicates (Sand Mafia): High profits have powered the rise of violent criminal syndicates, who often intimidate or attack officials, activists, journalists, and local communities.

Disruption of Local Livelihoods: Environmental damage directly impacts river-dependent communities: fishermen lose catches, and farmers suffer from water scarcity and fertile land erosion. 

Challenges in regulating Sand mining 

Lack of Political and Administrative Will: A strong nexus between illegal miners, politicians, and local officials often undermines enforcement.

Inadequate Monitoring: Despite guidelines, the on-ground adoption of technology for surveillance is weak, making it easy for illegal operations to go unchecked.

Unscientific District Survey Reports (DSRs): DSRs, which form the basis of legal mining, are often prepared without proper scientific study of river sediment and replenishment rates, rendering them ineffective.

Pervasive Corruption: Corruption at various levels allows the illegal mining network to operate with impunity, leading to significant revenue leakage.

Way Forward

Mandatory Technology Integration: States must fully implement the EMGSM 2020 guidelines, making GPS tracking of sand-transport vehicles and drone-based surveillance of mining sites a non-negotiable condition.

Accountability of Officials: As highlighted by the NGT, District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police must be held accountable for lapses in enforcement within their jurisdictions.

Promoting Sustainable Alternatives

• Incentivizing M-Sand: Government must create a robust policy framework to promote the use of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand), produced by crushing hard granite stones, as a viable alternative to river sand.
• Utilizing Industrial By-products: Alternatives like copper slag, granulated blast furnace slag, and recycled Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste should be promoted through incentives and standards (Source: Central Road Research Institute).

Scientific Assessment and Public Participation

• Robust DSRs: States must ensure DSRs are prepared with scientific rigour, including detailed studies of river replenishment capacity, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
• Community Monitoring: Empowering local communities and using platforms like the 'India Sand Watch' can create a powerful social audit mechanism to report and curb illegal activities.

Conclusion

Illegal sand mining is a governance and environmental challenge that requires diligent enforcement, technological monitoring, and a shift towards sustainable alternatives to treat sand as a strategic natural resource. 

Source: DOWNTOEARTH