Central panel suggests three-year plan to stop unsafe sand mining from rivers

A Supreme Court-appointed committee has proposed a three-year plan to gradually stop unsustainable sand mining from active river channels.

Key Proposals

The Central Empowered Committee submitted its report on November 2 during a court-led case about illegal mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary. The statutory body wants authorities to build a reliable supply of alternative materials so the country stops relying on active riverbeds. To achieve this, the panel suggests cleaning out silt from dams and reservoirs and recycling old building waste.

Environmental Concerns

The report notes that excessive sand removal damages river systems, harms water tables, and ruins the homes of river plants and animals. Furthermore, the panel points out that India lacks a single national database to track the total volume or value of illegally mined river sand.

Better Rules

To fix these issues, the committee advises tightening rules for legal mining areas by using scientific surveys, regular refill studies, and digital tracking for truck loads. State governments should also encourage manufactured sand and old building waste recycling through incentives. Finally, the group wants the Central government and the Ministry of Jal Shakti to launch a national program to clear dam silt.

Context

Sand and gravel are essential raw materials for building roads, bridges, and houses across the country. When too much sand is scooped out of riverbeds, it changes how rivers flow and often weakens nearby bridges and roads.