SAND MINING
The demand for river sand and consequent high price, following the construction boom has led to indiscriminate sand mining from rivers, violating the rules in several parts. A river has life – she has birth, destiny, happiness, anger and all kinds of emotions including trauma. A river has physical body with curves and shapes in which they carry lifelines - an ecology comprising of fauna and flora. A river is a mother where she feeds all living organisms including human beings. Life does not exist without water and sunshine. Needless to say those rivers were the cradles of our rich culture. I thought that we should understand the pain and sufferings that these rivers are undergoing today.
Despite numerous prohibitions and regulations, sand mining continues rapidly, the extent to which sand mining - legal as well as illegal - flourishes is clear from the fact that even the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) working in the area find it difficult to provide estimates of the quantity of sand mined. River sand mining has become a ludicrous and risk-free business in most places. An average of 1000 truckloads of sand are mined every DAY, and each load costs somewhere between Rs.3000 and Rs.5000/load, depending on the market demand.
A related process is the mining of mineral sands, such as mineral deposits, grain, wheat, diamond which contain industrial useful minerals, mainly gold and silver. These minerals typically occur combined with ordinary sand. The sand is dug up, the valuable minerals are separated in water by using their different density, and the remaining ordinary sand is re-deposited.
Impacts of sand mining
Impacts of sand mining can be broadly clasified into three categories:
- Physical
The large-scale extraction of streambed materials, mining and dredging below the existing streambed, and the alteration of channel-bed form and shape leads to several impacts such as erosion of channel bed and banks, increase in channel slope, and change in channel morphology. These impacts may cause: (1) the undercutting and collapse of river banks, (2) the loss of adjacent land and/or structures, (3) upstream erosion as a result of an increase in channel slope and changes in flow velocity, and (4) downstream erosion due to increased carrying capacity of the stream, downstream changes in patterns of deposition, and changes in channel bed and habitat type.
- Water Quality
Mining and dredging activities, poorly planned stockpiling and uncontrolled dumping of overburden, and chemical/fuel spills will cause reduced water quality for downstream users, increased cost for downstream water treatment plants and poisoning of aquatic life.
- Ecological
Mining which leads to the removal of channel substrate, resuspension of streambed sediment, clearance of vegetation, and stockpiling on the streambed, will have ecological impacts. These impacts may have an effect on the direct loss of stream reserve habitat, disturbances of species attached to streambed deposits, reduced light penetration, reduced primary production, and reduced feeding opportunities.
sand mining in major rivers is posing a serious threat to the environment and if the practice goes unchecked, the impact on nature will be disastrous.
Sand mining affects the smooth flow of water, the river's basic function. Water runs off quickly to the sea. It makes prone to flooding. It does not recharge ground water and aquifers. Near the coastal areas, it results in salination of water making it non-potable. The sand mining also results in erosion of river banks, affecting the soil stability. In some places, the mining has gone so deep that the foundations of bridges are completely exposed and threatened. No wonder if the bridge breaks down when a bus is trying to cross it. The sand mining also affects the lifelines of river - flora and fauna. The existence of life helps the river to purify the dirt it carries through the mechanisms of aerobic (dissolved oxygen) and anaerobic process. There are livelihood issues too. River sand mining affects the farmers. It affects the agricultural lands either through salt water intrusion or depletion of ground water or sediment deposit. The impact is disastrous during flooding as well as draught. Due to endless sand mining, the depth of the rivers enhances and the mud walls on either side collapse posing a major threat to nearby houses and farms.
Uncontrolled sand mining has damaged the river's ecosystem as well, destroying the habitats of organisms living on the riverbed. Fish breeding and migration - the fish move between marine and freshwater habitats during spawning - have been affected because of sand mining and the check dams constructed on the river. he river is also a source of food for many bird species such as egrets, storks, terns and sandpipers. Sand mining has put a question mark over their very survival. Worse still, "species seen in the sea are moving up, and this indicates more saline water in the river.
Some examples
The rivers such as Pampa
Sand-quarrying in Moovattupuzha river is mainly concentrated in and around Vaikom, consisting of Velloor, Thalayolaparambu, Chembu, Maravanthuruthu and Udayana- puram Panchayats.
Illegal sand mining has continued unabated on the banks of river Hemavathi, particularly in Hanthur, Angadi, Kanachur and Jenubail villages. Three children have died in Hemavathi river a week back, drowning in the depth created after sand mining.
The Connecticut warbler and the blackpoll warbler, which fly through the Washington area en route from Alberta
Bharathapuzha and Black Bellied Tern
Indiscriminate sand-mining, rising pollution levels, reclamation of land and human interference are posing a serious threat to the fragile riverine ecosystem of the Bharathapuzha and to the existence of the Black-bellied Tern, which has been reckoned as a threatened and vulnerable species, according to a study conducted by a group of bird- watchers in the capital city.
A study carried out by the Thiruvananthapuram- based `Warblers and Waders', in collaboration with the UK-based Oriental Bird Club in the Bharathapuzha river basin from January to May, this year has revealed that relentless sand-mining activity in the river basin at places including Kuttippuram, Mallurkadavu and Thirunavaya was posing a threat to the bird species. The study observes that the nesting grounds of the Black-bellied Tern in the sand pits and mud banks are being excavated by sand-miners. In addition, heavy vehicular traffic through the river for transport of sand has resulted in the decline of the presence of waders, the report says.
The study team comprising bird-watchers, C. Susanth, K.A. Kishore, R. Murukesh and B.V. Premkrishnan has found out that pollution of the Bharathapuzha river basin near the Nava Mukunda temple at Thirunavaya is threatening the ecosystem. Large quantities of plantain leaves and other waste, including plastic, are being dumped into the river every day after the `bali' rituals performed on the bank.
The decaying of these leaves affects the fish population and the avifaunal population in the area. It is up to the temple authorities to check the increasing rate of pollution, they say.
The Black-bellied Tern (Sterna Acuticauda) that is included as a threatened species in the Red Data Book of Threatened Birds of Asia is facing habitat degradation.
Though the nesting of this bird was first sighted in Kerala at Kuttippuram-Mullurkadavu in 2002, the team was unable to record the nesting in the region this year. While the total number of terns sighted by the team in 2002 was 13, it was just six this year, the report says.
The team has found out that the habitat degradation is high in the Chamravattom area where the sand banks are fully covered with coarse grass and weeds.
This area that once attracted several species of birds including the Black-bellied Tern had very low bird population this year.
The team has urged the Government to enact laws banning indiscriminate sand-mining and reclamation of the Bharathapuzha basin.
They have demanded that steps should be taken for preventing pollution at Thirunavaya by the Nava Mukunda temple authorities.
The
Sand Mining on an Anguillian Beach
Sand can be removed from a beach in two main ways. The first is natural, for example by ground seas, storms, or currents. The second is from human activities, the most destructive of which is large-scale sand mining.
Sand mining is the physical removal of sand from anywhere that it exists. It can take place on a small-scale – taking a bucket or two – or large-scale – truckloads that take it away for such things as construction. Almost all of Anguilla ’s beaches are protected from any form of sand mining. All except for one, that is – a beach on the north-east side of the island between Savannah Bay
It is a precarious situation. Once this now small sand dune is gone, water will flood the open area, and waves will hit this newly created cliff. The erosion process and cycle will continue and the land will be washed away – the rate of which depends on the waves, the storms, and the level of continued sand mining pressure. The latter of which is largely unknown. There are no formal records indicating approximately how much sand is being removed on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly basis.
The area will also become more susceptible to storm and hurricane damage. The loose and un-vegetated soil and sand that is becoming exposed can be easily washed away. The coastline for which Anguilla is so famous for is at risk.
And the effects of sand mining are felt at more than just this one beach. The coastal system is an inter-connected one and the effects can potentially be widespread. For example, through a process called sand displacement, currents can move sand from one beach to another. The loss of sand from one beach by such a process, however, does not mean that it will necessarily be reduced or negatively impacted as it may also, in turn, be receiving sand from another beach. But this natural give-and-take process has to be allowed.
There is a very strong chance that the same could happen to the Windward Point beach. The eastern tip of Anguilla is very thin. The distance between the coasts is minimal. Every truckload of sand that is removed for construction or other purposes is one less truckload of sandy coastline and one more reason for us to be concerned.
While Anguillians should visit the area to see the impacts of these activities for themselves, these pictures provide a glimpse into what has happened.
So we see the activities and have a better understanding of the impacts. The question is now, what are we going to do about it?
Sand mining from almost all the rivers in Kerala goes on unabated despite the restrictions and controls imposed by the State Government.
It has not only deepened the river beds to below the sea level but threatens the existence of several road bridges across these rivers, according to Mr N.K. Sukumaran Nair, Vice-President of the Aluva-based Kerala River Protection Council.
"It is the violation of the law passed by the Kerala Legislature unanimously on December 6, 2001," he told Business Line.
He alleged that the controls envisaged in the law are not being enforced.
As a result of the fall in the riverbed level to below the sea level, the water available in 20-30 km stretch of several rivers from their confluences to upward has become saline.
Besides, the water level in the wells on the embankments has fallen sharply since the monsoon season has ended.
Another concern is that the indiscriminate mining has bared the bases of the pillars of the bridges to the extent that the well foundation that are supposed to remain under the riverbed are now exposed by three metres, Mr Nair said.
The worst affected rivers in the State are Manimala,
The stream discharge data of Central Water Commission (CWC) stations in the Manimala,
It is estimated that about 65,899 MT - equivalent to 8,237 truckloads - per year of sand is being transported downstream of the respective gauging stations as suspension.
The daily dividend worked out on the basis of 200 working days in a year comes to only 41 truckloads per day (tlpd).
"If one is very particular about sustainable mining, only 41 tlpd of sand can be mined from the river stretch downstream of the CWC stations," official reports said.
At the same time, the existing quantity of sand being mined from the river stretches downstream of gauging stations amounts to 851 tlpd.
"When the extraction rate exceeds the replenishment rate, significant and potentially irreversible changes occur in the hydraulic conditions and channel stability."
On the other hand, these rivers provide drinking water to lakhs of people in the respective basins.
"Unfortunately, these rivers are on the verge of severe deterioration due to indiscriminate quarrying of sand for constructions. The riverbanks, at many locations, are being cut deeply for developing new sand mining locations," a CWC official said.
"Slumping of river banks, marked changes in riverbed configuration, mining of sand from prohibited areas close to engineering structures and over-deepening of river channels are some of the problems that need immediate attention."
It is estimated that the riverbed has been lowered about 1.2 m in Manimala in 1990-2000, 1.23 m in
Apart from instream mining, mining of sand from land areas such as paddy fields and floodplains is also practised in many panchayats.
The layers of sand inter-bedded within floodplain areas have been exploited as an alternative to river sand.
The floodplain mining also damages the environmental setting of the area.
"It is because the sandy layers intervened within the floodplain deposits have direct baring on the local hydrological regime and ground water movement," the official said.
"Removal of sediments and creation of deep pits by way of mining sand will result in lowering of water table to deeper levels."
Later, the dug wells of such locations have also to be deepened in tune with the lowering of water table.
Water logging, collapse of wells adjacent to mining sites, marked changes in the scenic beauty and geomorphology, reduction in agricultural land, etc., are some of the problems that follow floodplain mining.
Further, there are several reports of pit capturing and even change of the natural course of rivers in areas subjected to intense floodplain mining, the officials added.
Health Hazards (radioactive)
Health hazards of the mining activity are of least concern for the authorities, as it seems
from their deeds. As Mr. V.T. Padmanabhan (widely acknowledged environmental activist and
scientist) puts it, "the establishment does not want to learn what is happening to these people
because it will involve multi- million dollars in compensation" (New Internationalist, 1993). Health
and health hazards are of the least concern in the mining sites and even in the factory of I.R.E at
Chavara and elsewhere. Meticulous research work such as Duranthathinte Noottantileku (Into the
Century of Disaster) - A research study on the environmental pollution at I.R.E Alwaye by V.T
Padmanabhan (1985) and Manaljeevikal (Sand Creatures) - A Novel by G.R Indugopan (2002),
clearly narrates not only the environmental havocs created by the ongoing coastal mining and the
related industries in Chavara and elsewhere, but also explicitly talks about the health hazards
caused by the industry.
The proposed mining is for extracting ilmenite, which is about 70% of the sand that is found
on this coast (Mineral Sands of Kerala, p 28). The residue of the extraction process is the
radioactive mineral such as monazite and zircon. Even I.R.E like Public Sector Company dumps
this residue back in the coast, exposing the local biota to detrimental radioactivity; what a greedy,
profit motivated private sector management would not do!
The maximum recommended absorbed dose of radiation is 5.0 mSv a-1* (less for children
and expectant moms). It is cited in documents that 'At Kerala Beach, India radioactive sand
produces a background of 35 mSv a-1' (FPAS, York University
in the radioactive coast line of Kerala are at risk even when the ilmenite - silica blanket and the
process of thermodynamic processes reduce the natural radiation from the radioactive minerals. Yet
another document reports that 'the majority of the population of the Kerala region in India
an annual dose greater than 500 mrem**. A small percentage of the inhabitants receive over 2,000
mrem per year and the highest recorded value has been 5,865 mrem in one year' (CTED. US DoE,
1995). The higher values could invariably be for those regions of Chavara coast and the dumping
grounds of the industrial residue.
Somatic, genetic, teratogenic, stochastic and non - stochastic effects of the natural radiation
are well studied and documented by researchers. A recent research conducted at the present mining
sites along Chavara coast, by the geneticists of University of Cambridge
the mitochondrial DNA sequences of families living in high-radiation area, where as a control
population observed for the study, living in the nearby white sand area south of the mining sites,
had only one mutation (Foster. et al, 2002). The researchers aptly refer to the areas of high
incidence of mutations as "evolutionary hot spots". From the fact that rate of background radiation
in the area tends to increase with mining and that mutations of human DNA increase with increase
in background radiation, mining in the proposed site will only help to spread the resultant ailments
and ill health from the Chavara coast and adjoining areas to a new area, affecting thousands more.
The changes that increased radiation rates will cause to the flora and fauna of the area is unknown
to even the scientific community as studies are lacking in this regard.
Thus sand mining has become a crucial issue which shall be managed effectively. These become a money earning source for some people who are unknown of all these facts. If this condition goes on, permanent loss of sand all around the world and cause the destruction of world.
We have to find alternative ways for construction works minimizing the excess use of sand.
Government has to take measures to control the sand mining, by introducing strict laws on mining.
Awareness programs have to be conducted in each panchayats for making the public more aware of the effects of mining.
So it’s time for all of us to join our hands to save this beautiful green earth where we all live. As we are the superior organism in this world, take this as our prime duty and work for it.
- - - - - - THANK YOU - - - - - - - - -
By,
NEVIN RAJU
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