The Supreme Court has warned that granting environmental clearances for sand mining without properly assessing the riverbed’s current condition could cause serious ecological damage, stressing the need for a balanced approach to safeguard environment and natural resources.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court stated that issuing environmental clearances for sand mining without a thorough assessment of the riverbed’s current condition could harm ecological balance.
The court highlighted the importance of conducting proper studies to identify sustainable and cost-effective methods for river sand extraction.
Justices P. S. Narasimha and A. S. Chandurkar highlighted the surging demand for construction-grade sand, noting that projections suggest this resource could be depleted by 2050.
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“Construction-grade sand can be found in aquatic environments, such as rivers, and is a provisioning ecosystem service. Even under controlled circumstances, the practice of extracting sand from the riverbed and banks impacts the environment.”
They explained that the extraction process can lead to significant physical changes, such as widening and lowering of the riverbed, and adversely affects biodiversity across aquatic and shoreline flora and fauna, extending to the entire floodplain.
The court pointed out that the easy accessibility of river sand and gravel has led to their widespread use in construction projects.
However, the method of mining and the river’s morphological and hydraulic characteristics can lead to bed and bank erosion, along with other detrimental effects on the river ecosystem.
The bench asserted,
“It is, therefore, necessary to conduct appropriate studies, including that of replenishment to explore sustainable and cost-effective methods for river mining,”
The Supreme Court emphasized that without a proper evaluation of the riverbed’s sustainability for future sand mining, granting environmental clearances could be harmful to ecology.
“It has therefore been held that a detailed study leading to the preparation of a replenishment report is an integral part of the District Survey Report. If the District Survey Report becomes the foundation for the consideration of an application for an environmental clearance, then it is compelling to ensure that replenishment studies are undertaken in advance and the report forms an integral part of the District Survey Report.”
A District Survey Report is prepared by various district departments such as geology, irrigation, forest, public works, or mining to assess areas for mining, identify zones where mining should be restricted, calculate resource replenishment rates, and determine necessary rest periods post-mining.