Sand Mining Spells Death of Rivers

Sand Mining has become such a menace in Kerala that they are posing serious threats to the eco-system and the rivers.  The might of the people occupied in this illicit business are so big and in spite of everything, the authorities find it difficult to deal them.  The latest example of their power was revealed from the resignation of a Panchayat President near Tiruvalla.  It appears that the woman president found it difficult to cope with the sand mafia.  All steps taken by her to check the sand mining from the Achenkovil River proved futile.  In addition, her life was in danger following the stringent measures taken by her to prevent sand mining.  In a press note distributed to the media persons, she establishes that the tortures meted out by the sand mafia and the political forces supporting them were beyond all bounds, which forced her to tender the resignation.

Almost all rivers in the State being plundered by the ever-pervading sand mafia.  There are 44 rivers flowing throughout the State.  Out of them 41 flows towards west and the remaining towards east.  The rivers together have showered Kerala with mammoth measure of aqua-wealth that includes abundant supply of fresh water, fishes, and other planktons that maintain the ecological balance.  Illogical sand mining is slowly paving way for the death of the rivers.  The sand mining activities not only enhance the depth of the rivers but also kill fishes and even threaten the existence of bridges constructed over them.  In this context, it may be noted that the Ranni Bridge over the Pampa River had collapsed a couple of years before.  Studies conducted to extract the causes of the collapse have strongly pointed fingers at the unscientific sand draining carried out all through the river.

Sand is mined from the rivers mainly for construction purposes.  It was with the inflow of huge amounts from the Gulf that the State shook up to the construction business.  The only remaining live business in the State today is construction and real estate.  Nevertheless, the latter had tumbled down with the economical recession.  However, the construction business is speeding forward at full throttle.  Sand is mixed with cement to grant the mixture more adhesive strength.  However, this practice is followed only in India.  In foreign countries, instead of sand, granite is powdered to fine grains and mixed along with cement.  This natural mixture has proved itself to bear more power than the alternative one prepared with river sand.  But in our country, this system is not being experimented, as it takes more effort and financial burdens to powder the granite.  It may be kept in mind that multi storeyed buildings, constructed out of this system and running to hundreds of floors are standing steady still, outside the country.  However, in our country, even to construct a single floor house, we opt to dig out sand from the convenient nearby river.

At the same time, a North Indian firm has come up with a project to set up plants that mines sand from the sea.  According to the project, the sand thus collected is washed further thoroughly to shed off the salt contents making it as pure as the river sand.  This project is kept in abeyance by the administration because it requires leasing out of the sea-space for long periods.  In addition, it demands the setting up of huge treatments near the sea.

The situation aggravates in Kerala, as the business has grown to mighty proportions with the turnover crossing the Crore Rupee mark.  Here the sand mafia comprises of a well-knit nexus of sand contractors, political leaders, trade union leaders, government officials, and the police.  So literally, there were only very few people available to check the movement of sand from the rivers to the construction sites.

Earlier the local self-governing bodies had took control of the the sand mining and had granted licenses to contractors to take out sand from the rivers.  Instead of confining to the prescribed boundaries, the contractors dug sand from wherever possible.  However, with the initiative mooted by a section of the government officials and nature societies, the authorities are now being forced to check sand mining, even to a small degree.  Various instances of earthquakes reported last year also prompted the authorities to think in this direction.  Scientists have opined that the increasing depth of rivers may appear to be one of the causes of earthquakes.  But this fact is not proven scientifically.  The practice is continuing in the darkness of night and one can see sand laden lorries pacing through the rural areas in the night.

Concurrently some of the police stations that seize sand laden lorries are taking stern actions against the culprits.  The seized lorries are handed over to the concerned courts.  A rough estimate may put the number of persons seeking employment in this sector at around 75,000.  Moreover, nearly each labourer is able to collect around Rs.500/- per day as remuneration.  Such is the dimension of this business, that it is not possible to control it within a day.  Sand drained from Bharathapuzha, Kabani and Periyar were even transported to Tamilnadu and Karnataka.  However, as the checking mechanisms have gained momentum, the inter state transport has been blocked.  Now, it is learnt that sand collected from Vaigai and Tamraparni Rivers of Tamilnadu are freely available in some southern districts of the State.

Eco-scientists warn that illegal sand mining is causing serious threats to not only the rivers but also to the economic balance of the State.  The construction of sidewalls along riverbanks has become a common practice in the State.  This is consuming a significant portion of the State’s exchequer, for which large sums are being kept apart each year.  But no one has ever bothered to study about the causes leading to the caving in of riverbanks.  Sand mining, which further leads to the increasing depth of the riverbeds is the main reason leading to this.  The same is the case with the pillars of the bridges.  With the increasing depth of the river beds, the ground water table recedes down, which in turn is the prime reason for the elevating drinking water shortage in the State.

Apart from sand mining, unscientific construction of dams and the disposal of organic and inorganic wastes into the rivers also spell its days of doom.  Rivers are the natural wealth of any civilization.  Each river-system holds with it a sophisticated stream of eco-diversities.  This may not be apparent on a ground level.  Nevertheless, on deeper analysis, it becomes evident that the rivers are necessary ingredients for the survival of human kind.  Therefore, the time is now right.  Abstain from all activities that one makes think will topple the sensitivity of our dear rivers…  End

S Gopakumar  


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