ABSTRACT: The increasing incidence oI globalisation has brought in soaring demand Ior the diIIerent Iactors oI production including

including natural
resources in the developing nations like India to provide Ior their numerous developmental needs. The varied and alternate uses oI natural
resources Ior production and construction activities, and the high demand mooted by globalisation, have been resulting in alarming scarcity Ior
these resources. However, the unscientiIic exploration oI these resources is generating severe environmental impacts. Moreover, the spiralling
cost oI these resources caused by increasing demand and acute scarcity pave ways Ior illicit traIIicking and related issues. Kerala, the God's own
country, located in the south-western tip oI India has been bestowed with Iorty Iour large and small rivers which criss-cross the land making it
green and Iertile. However, the greed oI men Ior money led to irrational plundering oI rivers Ior sand resulting in severe environmental and
related issues. The alarming rate oI indiscriminate sand mining and other hazardous uses oI rivers by men, even in the midst oI many regulatory
and protective measures Ior their conservation, have made the condition oI these rivers pathetic. The paper attempts to invite the attention oI the
international community to the pitiable condition oI the second longest river in Kerala, The Bharathapu:ha, on account oI indiscriminate sand
mining and the consequent environmental threats as a lesson oI manmade disaster.
Key Words. Sand mining Bharathapu:ha River Riparian Destruction Erosion of River Banks Lowering River Beds Deviation of River Route
Damage to Bridges
INDISCRIMINATE RIVER SAND MINING: AMAN MADE DISASTER IN KERALA, INDIA
SANTHOSH KUMAR S. AND SREE1ASUKUMAR K.
Post Graduate and Research Department oI Commerce,
St. Peter's college, Kolenchery, Kerala, India.
E mail: Sreejalryahoo.com , drsanstpetersgmail.com
INTRODUCTION:
Kerala, the God's own country, located in the south-western tip
oI India has a total land area oI 38,863 sq. km. bordered by
Karnataka state in the north, Tamil-Nadu to the east and the
Arabian Sea to the west. The state boasts its mysterious
backwaters, beautiIul beaches and lustrous tropical greenery.
Kerala has been ranked as one oI the top tourist destinations
and is recommended as one oI the 'must see destinations of a
life time by the National Geographic's Traveller Magazine. It
is bestowed with Iorty Iour large and small rivers which criss-
cross the land making it green, attractive and Iertile. The rivers
in Kerala are small with an average length oI 64 km. These
water bodies are Ied by monsoon rains and as these rivers lack
deltas they are more prone to environmental Iactors. These
rivers have also been Iacing severe man made threats due to
irrational sand mining and pollution (Padmalal, Maya,
Sreebha & Sreeja, 2007). The increasing amount oI irrational
mining oI river sands, though not justiIiable, is in a way
deIended on the ground oI soaring requirement oI natural
resources Ior developmental needs particularly Ior building
inIrastructure and other production processes.
Over the last Iewyears, the Indian economy has been targeting
an annual growth rate oI 8 to 10, propagating it one oI the
Iastest growing economies in the world. For sustaining this
rate oI growth, the country needs huge investments in physical
inIrastructure such as roads, water, power etc. The thirst oI the
economy Ior higher growth is understandable, but the
developmental needs should be sustainable. One should never
perish to pave way Ior the growth oI the other and this should
be the corner stone oI all developmental agendas.
Indiscriminate exploration oI natural resources including river
sands without having any concern Ior the respective source and
the environment has brought into light severe environmental
issues in many parts oI the country. Though legislations and
protests against these exploitations are plenty, unsystematic
plundering oI rivers and other sources are unprecedentedly
mounting.
II. River Sand Mining :Extraction oI sand Irom the riverbeds
and banks is being carried on by mankind since a long period
oI time. River sand mining is warranted to prevent Iloods but
when it becomes excessive it starts to signal danger. The use oI
sand and gravel primarily Ior construction oI roads and
buildings is its commercial utility. The extraction and supply
oI sand commensurate with the sand budget is Iine Ior the
rivers and the environment. However, exorbitant demand oI
sand Ior commercial use has led mankind to indiscriminate
mining resulting in environmental and other issues like
destruction oI biodiversity and illicit traIIicking. The impact oI
sand mining on rivers varies depending upon the magnitude,
Irequency and methods oI mining and particle size oI the sand
(LIGRopoter, 2010). Traditional modes oI sand mining using
manual methods do not exert excessive damage on the earth.
However, Ior the purpose oI proIiteering, people use harmIul
mechanical methods to scoop out sand. Absence oI concerted
conservation eIIorts by the authorities aggravated the issue
paving ways Ior irresponsible sand mining causing permanent
damage to the source and the related eco system.
III. Sand Budget The Mute Witness:The concept oI sand
budget denotes the amount oI sand that could be removed Irom
the area without causing undue erosion or degradation, either
at the site or a nearby location, upstream or downstream. To
determine the sand budget Ior a particular river, speciIic
topographic, hydrologic and hydraulic inIormation is needed
(http://ponce.sdsu.edu, 2001). Interestingly, nowit is the great
concern oI the authorities that sand mining nowhere is done
within the limits oI the sand budget. The lobby behind this
activity misuses the permits issued by authorities Ior mining. II
the permit is Ior digging up one truck load, they dig up at least
10 to 20 loads using a single load permit. The sand mafia
rewards authorities and thereIore, no action is taken against
these Iorces. Sand mining lobby is powerIul and resort to
violence with people who hinder their activities. As the local
labourers involved are paid a handsome amount, they too
support the maIia. Moreover, there is no political will to stop
the process. Government rules regarding sand mining are also
lenient. The punishment oI imprisonment up to two years or a
Iine Rs. 20,000 Ior illegal sand mining is reported to be
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insuIIicient to prevent the crime (Deepa, 2005).
IV. Bharathapuzha River in Kerala, India:Kerala owes its
bio-diversity and cultural richness to a great extent to an eco
system nourished by a massive network oI its Iorty Iour rivers.
The Bharathapuzha, also known as Nila is the second longest
river in Kerala with a total length oI 209 Km. with a large basin
oI 6186 Sq. Km. It originates Irom Aana Malai Hills at Tamil
Nadu in the Western Ghats and Ilows through Coimbatore
district oI Tamil Nadu, and Palakkad, Malappuram and
Thrissur districts oI Kerala and Iinally empties into theArabian
Sea at Ponnani. It is popular Ior its geophysical value as well as
its cultural and historical signiIicance. The river valley is
considered the cradle of civilisation in Kerala and the
inIluence oI Nila on the cultural Iormation oI Kerala people is
invaluable (George, 2007) (Figure 1). However, the perennial
river which was muse to writers, dancers and musicians; and
lively hood to agriculturists and labourers is now a dead river
with vast dry stretches which Iills up Ior a Iewdays during the
periodical June-August Monsoon in the state. Dinesan (2012)
rightly observed that the river shrinked into rivulets and these
are meandering through some portions oI the river bed. As the
river bed is dry Ior most oI the period, the Iarmers grow
vegitables on the bed. Research studies have been reporting
about the pathetic condition oI the river which in turn causes
damages to the ecosystem in and around the river, agricultural
activities dependent on the river, physical structures over the
river and the river based tradition and culture built around the
state. In short, the present state oI the river has become a matter
oI serious concern to the people, authorities, scientist,
environmentalist and other stake holders (Figure 2).
Noticeably, among the grave causes Ior the degradation oI the
river, sand mining is reported to be the dominant one (Dinesan,
2012; Aravindan, 2002; Prabhakaran, 2001; John, 2009;
George, 2007; Satish, 2011).
Figure 1 The Bharathapuzha River (Decades BeIore)
Figure 2 Present Pathetic Condition oI Bharathapuzha
V. Indiscriminate Sand Mining in Bharathapuzha River A
Case:Bharathapuzha is one oI the rivers in Kerala heavily
utilised Ior sand mining. Illegal sand mining in the river is quite
regular and usual devoid oI protective laws against mining,
intervention oI authorities and courts (Figure 3). Loopholes in
the laws governing illegal mining, scope Ior inIluencing the
authorities, and the Iinancial strength oI the sand mafia to Iight
up to the sky limit have transIormed the situation into a
dangerous level. The impacts oI unsystematic sand mining on
environment and other physical conditions are indisputably
severe. Though the general impacts are same, speciIic negative
impacts are diverse. An expert committee appointed by the
Government oI Kerala to investigate into the problems oI
Bharathapuzha (1997) reports, 'the Bharathapuzha system is
seriously aIIected by unsustainable exploitation oI its
resources and over utilisation oI its surIace and ground water
resources, particularly in the lean period. The indiscriminate
sand removal has almost killed the river (The Hindu, 2003
quoted by George 2007). The Iirst bio diversity study on the
Bharathapuzha conducted with the sponsorship oI University
Grants Commission (UGC) also points out the primary role oI
sand mining in the destruction oI the river. (Prabhakaran,
2001). The evidences Ior the consequential impacts oI the
excessive sand mining continuing in the river are detailed in
the Iorthcoming pages.
Figure 3 Prevailing Illegal Sand Mining in the Bharathapuzha
River
1. Hampering the Riverine and Related Ecosystem:
Numerous studies have reported about the severe destruction
or total destruction oI riparian vegetation along the
Bharathapuzha river channel due to unsystematic sand mining
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SSN 0974-0678
and also the growth oI exotic plants all along the basin
(Dinesan, 2012; Prabhakaran, 2001; Aravindan, 2002).
Excessive sand mining has also impacted the Iish Iauna in the
river. As the eggs oI majority oI Iishes hatch in the soil
substratum, human made barriers in the river movement
prevent migration oI Iishes which move between Iresh water
and marine habitats while spawning (Prabhakaran, 2001;
Dinesan 2012). Earlier studies have identiIied river basins oI
Bharathapuzha especially Purathoor and Cheruthuruthy
estuaries are rich in aviIauna, particularly the migratory birds
(Neelakantan et al., 1980; Neelakantan and Suresh Kumar,
1980 quoted by Kumar, 2006). Kurup in 1991 observed that
there was large scale migration oI birds to the river basin,
especially to the Purathoor basin, on account oI the presence oI
large extent oI sand and mud Ilats and shallow waters in the
region. However, indiscriminate sand mining, demolition oI
deltas and burning oI the vegetation in the river basin were
observed as the major threats to the bird population (Kumar,
2006).

2. Lowering River Beds and Water Holding Capacity:
Excessive sand mining in the Bharathapuzha River has
lowered the river bed in the downstream areas even below the
sea level (Dinesan, 2012). Studies on the environmental issues
oI the river have come up with the Iinding that the sand layers
holding considerable quantity oI water in the spaces between
them are disturbed due to the excessive mining. Moreover,
sand mining has caused declining percolation oI water through
the river beds and its subsequent recharge into the ground
water supply (Prabhakaran, 2001; Satish, 2011).

3. River Bank Erosion:Indiscriminate sand mining in the
Nila has resulted in large scale river bank erosion. Deepening
oI the river bed and widening oI the river ensuing in land loss
and depletion oI ground water level are reported by many
studies. As sand mining causes the removal oI top soil and
vegetation cover along the river side, soil erosion is all
throughout on the banks oI the river (Aravindan, 2002;
Nampoothiri, 2001).

4. Intrusion of Saline Water and Drinking Water
Scarcity:While the river is getting deeper by sand removal,
there is saline water intrusion even in the upper reaches oI the
river and this is Iurther compounded during high tides. Salt
water intrusion has badly aIIected the water supply projects
largely at Chamravattom, Thirunavaya and Thavannur areas.
Many pump houses along the river basin supplying water Ior
agricultural and other purposes are now deserted. Further, the
lowering oI water tables has resulted in the drying up oI nearby
ponds and wells. The depth oI the wells in river bank areas is
usually 3 to 8 metres below the ground water level. Due to
lowering oI water tables, bore wells are being dug in the areas
with a depth oI 80 to 300 metres belowground water level and
these days the density oI bore wells is very high especially in 3
blocks Pttambi, Alathur and Thrithala (Dinesan, 2012). The
dwellers along the river basin are now Iacing severe problem
oI drinking water shortage and have to depend on the
unhygienic water supplied by the private water suppliers.
There is also no hope that the river would restore its original
Ilowbecause the Iresh water discharge Irom the river has been
decreasing continuously. The water scarcity as well as salinity
oI water also has adversely aIIected the agriculture in the
nearby areas. The agricultural activities oI the Palakkad
district, once known as the rice bowl oI Kerala, were to a major
extent depending on Bharathapuzha Ior its irrigation needs.
Now the district is no longer worthy oI the title due to lower
level agricultural activities resulted Irom periodical draught.
There are also reports oI Iarmers' complaint about invasion by
newtypes oI pests (Dinesan, 2012; Prabhakaran, 2001).
5. Damage to Bridges:There are many bridges across the
Bharathapuzha River. Indiscriminate sand mining has already
made severe damages to the bridges (Aravindan, 2002). The
basements oI the pillars oI many bridges have cracked
indicating disastrous situation. The recent reports by Dinesan
(2012) reveals that the well caps oI the Pattambi, Shornaur and
Kuttippuram bridges are exposed to about 1.55m, 1.15m and
1.40m respectively.
6. Increased Sedimentation :Sand mining has
diminished the recreational potential oI the Bharathapuzha
river. Deep pits are Iormed in the river beds which are Iilled
with gravel and other sediments. This is highly risky Ior those
who use the rivers Ior washing, bathing and also Ior varied
Iorms oI recreation. Lower part oI the river has been
completely Iilled by the deposits and now it is Ilowing very
slowly. ThereIore, taking this deposit Irom the river-bed is
necessary to protect the river Irom the side erosion and
widening through the Iloods in Iuture (Nampoothiri, 2001).
7. Chemical and Fuel Spillage and Other Pollutants: The
quality oI water is also adversely aIIected due to chemical and
Iuel spills Irom machinery used Ior dredging and sand mining
activities and by the vehicles used Ior transportation oI sand.
The water at the mining site is disturbed and the polluted water
is carried downstream causing inconveniences to people who
extract water Ior domestic use (http://ponce.sdsu.edu, 2001).
Now the quantity oI water in the river is almost a trickle in
many places and the available water is concentrated with
pollutants.
VI. Magnitude Mining and Financials Involved :Absence
oI oIIicial data on indiscriminate and illegal sand mining is
again the awIul side oI the process. Though diIIerent versions
based on random assessment are available Irom unoIIicial
sources, the reliability and sanctity oI the data is Iar Irom the
scan oI a cross check. Moreover, the available data on quantity
and value are alleged to be gross underestimates. Nair (2001)
in his research study has attempted to quantiIy the volume oI
indiscriminate sand mining in Bharathapuzha and reports that
as on inIormation by the local people, more than 300 loads oI
sand products have been transported Irom the river in a day
(unauthorised). Computed annually, the illegal exploration oI
sand amounts to 1, 09,500 loads (i.e. 365 days * 300 loads).
This is more or less equal to the annual quantity oI sand legally
permitted to mine Irom the river by the authorities, the Nair's
report adds. According to another unoIIicial estimate in 2004,
around 1,000 truckloads oI sand are being mined daily Irom
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48
the Bharathapuzha (Frontline, 2004). A recent report by
Dinesan (2012) states that altogether the average quantity oI
sand transported by auctioning process and existing permit
system is 2,88,605 truck loads a year. II the proportion oI legal
and illegal sand take at present is as same as Nair reported
2001, the magnitude oI present illegal mining may even
exceed the above quantity legally taken away Irom the river.
During the monsoon period (June-August) the river
replenishes itselI and thereIore sand mining is banned in the
rainy season. However, sand mining unabatedly continues
during the monsoon as the sand prices per truck load rises twice
or thrice or sometimes more than that during this period
(Deepa, 2005).
VII. Rescue Intervention by Governments, Courts and
Environmentalists :The Grama Panchayat, the lowest tier in
the local selI-government structure, oI the respective areas is
authorised by lawto issue permits Ior sand mining in the river.
The issue oI permits by Grama Panchayats is claimed to be
governed by sand budgets prepared by them Irom time to time.
The Rule 30 oI the Kerala Protection oI River Banks and
Regulation oI Removal oI Sands Rules, 2002 states that the
Government shall conduct, every three years, Sand Audit
through Expert Committees such as Centre Ior Earth Science
Studies (CESS), Centre Ior Water Resources Development and
Management (CWRDM), so as to ensure protection oI rivers in
each District and to assess the quantity oI available sand.
However, mining oI sand without permits are all the way
common and regular in the rivers in Kerala. Most oI the time,
indiscriminate sand mining is alleged to be taking place with
the silent permission oI local governments, political leaders
and bureaucrats. Intervention oI activists and courts are Iound
to be temporary solutions, otherwise the Iate oI the river would
not have been as pathetic as the Figure exhibits.
VIII. Conclusion:The Bharathapuzha river basin is
Iavourable Ior sand extraction in a scientiIic way. Evidences
Ior indiscriminate and illegal sand mining in the river and the
consequent environmental degradation are plenty in number.
The greed oI the mankind Ior money and the rocketing demand
oI sand Ior construction and other activities are all the way
mounting the scope Ior indiscriminate sand mining by the sand
mafia. Regulations part oI the relevant laws, oIIicial
authorities, courts, environmentalists and general public are
the mute witnesses oI the process. The river is on the verge oI
death, demanding the Iinal rescue. Budgeting the periodical
extraction oI sand and governing the process oI extraction to
comply with the budget is highly warranted. Concerted eIIort
Irom the part oI Government, local bodies, courts,
environmentalists and general public with unique motive and
action are required to save the river.
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Aravindan. (2002, March 27). Sand Mining DeIaces Rivers. The
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http://www.indiatogether.org/support/home.php
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Basin, southern India. Current Science , 101 (4), 492.
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