Illegal sand mining serious, needs to be curbed: SC

The Supreme Court underscored the severity of illegal sand mining in India, labeling it a significant issue that “needs to be dealt with effectively”.

Sand Mining in India

• Sand mining is a widespread issue across India and globally.
• It has been prevalent in various regions, including the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, Sutlej in Punjab, Yamuna in Delhi, Ganga in Haridwar, Chambal and Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, Musi in Telangana, and Cauvery in Tamil Nadu, among others.
• Globally, sand consumption is over 40 billion tons annually, with demand exceeding natural replenishment by rivers, according to a United Nations study.
• Sand, the second most consumed natural resource after water, is essential for construction, glass production, paint, and road paving, among other things.
• River sand, specifically, is preferred over desert or marine sand due to its angular grains, which are more suitable for industrial uses.
• However, sand generation is static and not uniform, leading to shortages and illegal mining. The extraction of sand from riverbeds, which is a crucial source, causes environmental and socio-economic issues.

Why the World Is Running Out of Sand?

The rapid demand for sand is driven by growing populations, urbanization, and infrastructure development. However, sand production is insufficient to meet global consumption due to:

• Static Natural Generation: Natural sand replenishment by rivers is slow and insufficient compared to the rising demand.
• Desert Sand vs. River Sand: Desert sand is unsuitable for construction as its grains are too rounded, and marine sand is corrosive. River sand is ideal, but its extraction causes long-term damage to ecosystems.
• Price Variability: Due to supply constraints, the price of sand fluctuates significantly, leading to black markets and illegal mining.

Environmental Impact of Sand Mining

• Alteration of Riverbeds: Excessive sand mining deepens rivers, erodes banks, changes river courses, and can lead to flooding.
• Biodiversity Loss: Mining harms river ecosystems, destroys habitats, and negatively impacts species like the Gharials in the Chambal River.
• Water Quality Degradation: Sand mining leads to increased erosion, which raises suspended solids in water, impacting water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
• Altered Sediment Budget: Mining disrupts sediment flow to oceans, affecting beaches and river deltas, and contributing to coastal erosion.
• Saline Intrusion: Excessive mining can lead to saltwater intrusion from nearby seas into freshwater systems.

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Fact Box:

Geology and Composition of Sand

• Sand is mainly composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles, often rich in silica (silicon dioxide or SiO2), usually in the form of quartz.
• Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), sand is classified as a "minor mineral."
• Legal Classification of Minerals in India
  • Minor Minerals: Sand falls under the category of "minor minerals" as per the MMDR Act, with the State Governments overseeing their regulation and extraction. The central government has the power to notify such minerals.
  • Major Minerals: Major minerals, including coal, uranium, iron ore, and gold, are managed by the central government. There is no official definition for "major minerals" in the MMDR Act; any mineral not listed as a minor mineral is considered a major mineral.

Regulations and Provisions for Sand Mining in India

• Since sand is a minor mineral, different state governments in India have their own rules for regulating sand concessions and mining activities. To curb illegal mining, various judicial bodies have intervened:
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): In August 2013, the NGT banned sand mining without proper environmental clearance.
• Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines 2016: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced guidelines to promote scientific and environmentally friendly sand mining practices.
• Mining Surveillance System (MSS): The Ministry of Mines has implemented a system to monitor illegal mining activities using space technology.
• Punitive Measures: Under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 120B and 34), illegal sand mining without a legal permit is punishable.