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1. Forcing the river to change its course
Sand and boulders prevent the river from changing the course and act as a buffer for the riverbed.
2. Illegally dredged sand is equivalent to robbing water.
Sand holds a lot of water, and when it is mindlessly mined and laden on to trucks, large quantities of water is lost in transit.
3. Depletion of groundwater tables
Sand, on a riverbed it acts as a link between the flowing river and the water table and is part of the aquifer.
For e.g.: Illegal and excessive sand mining in the riverbed of the Papagani catchment area in Karnataka has led to the depletion of groundwater levels and environmental degradation in the villages on the banks of the river in both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
4. Adversely impacting the habitat of micro-organisms
There are a lot of micro-organisms that are not visible and widely known, but are critical to soil structure and fertility. When sand is dredged, literally it takes away their habitat.
5. Increased river erosion
When sand and boulders are removed in an unimpeded way using heavy machines, the erosion capacity of the river increases.
6. Damage to roads and bridges
For e.g.: In Vishnuprayag the boulders that came down with the river water damaged a side of the dam and the waters spread out across causing heavy damage.
7. Threat to agriculture
For e.g.: Despite numerous prohibitions and regulations, sand mining continues rapidly on the riverbed of the Bharathapuzha in kerala. Water tables have dropped dramatically and a land once known for its plentiful rice harvest now faces scarcity of water. In the villages and towns around the river, groundwater levels have fallen drastically and wells are almost perennially dry.
8. Damage to coastal ecosystem
This destructive illegal practice in beaches, creeks leads to erosion along the shoreline. Eg: Kihim Beach off Alibaug, Shore levels have reduced, forcing residents to build walls to protect themselves from the sea.
It wrecks the intertidal area and creates the imminent danger of saline water ingress into fresh water.
Coastal sand mining destroys fisheries, disturbs coral, mangroves, wetlands and has led to the near extinction of ghariyals, a crocodile species unique to India.
A major impact of beach sand mining is the loss of protection from storm surges associated with tropical cyclones and tsunamis.
9. Lesser availability of water for industrial, agricultural and drinking purposes.
10. Loss of employment to farm workers.
11. Threat to livelihoods.
Current rules and policies in operation relation to sand mining
Kerala: Kerala Protection of River Banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act, 2001
Key features: To permit sand mining in select areas and each selected area or Kadavu will be managed by a Kadavu Committee which will decide on matters such as quantum of mining to be permitted, and to mobilise local people to oversee these operations and ensure protection of rivers and riverbanks.
Key rivers affected: Bharatapuzha, Kuttiyadi river, Achankovil, Pampa and Manimala, Periyar, Bhavani, Siru- vani, Thuthapuzha, and Chitturpuzha, rivers in the catchments of Ashtamudi and Vembanad lakes
Tamil Nadu: Policy that ensures that quarrying of sand in Government poramboke lands and private patta lands
will
only be undertaken by the Government. Mechanised sand mining is prohibited. In 2008, this policy was countermanded by the government and private parties were given permits for mining.
Rivers affected: Cauvery, Vaigai, Palar, Cheyyar, Araniyar and Kosathalaiyar, Bhavani, Vellar , Vaigai Thamiraparani, Kollidam. coastal districts of Nagapattinam, Tuticorin, Ramanatha-puram and Kanyakumari. hill regions of Salem and Erode districts.
Karnataka: The Uniform Sand Mining Policy does not allow sand mining in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area and prohibits the use of machineries to mine sand from river. High Court of Karnataka banned mechanised boats for sand mining in the state from April 2011.
From September 2011, according to Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules 2011,the responsibility of oversight of sand mining has been transferred to the Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department.
Rivers affected: Cauvery, Lakshmanateerta, Harangi, He-mavathi, Nethravatai, Papagani
Andhra Pradesh: In 2006, a new policy that allows only manual labour and bullocks to mine sand in riverbeds. Bullock carts, mules and other animals would be exempted from any mining tax. Contractors will be allotted sand through open bidding by a committee headed by district joint collectors. Sand can be sold only if it has a maximum retail price tag, otherwise there will be a penalty. Use of poclaines has been banned entirely, and mining will be disallowed below three metres.
Rivers affected: Godavari, Tungabhadra, Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Bahuda and Mahendratanaya
Maharashtra: New policy, 2010, under which it is compulsory for contractors to obtain permission from the Gramsabha, for sand mining. Ban on use of suction pumps in dredging and sand mining licences can be given only through a bidding process. Also sand mining projects have to obtain environmental clearances.
Rivers affected: creeks at Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad and Ratnagiri
Uttar-Pradesh: the Noida administration established a “Special Mining Squad,” charged with the specific task of impeding and ultimately extricating Greater Noida from the sand mafia’s degradation.
Rivers affected: Chhoti Gandak, Gurra, Rapti and Gha-ghara.