Some states have banned mechanised mining, but the mafia is not ready to obey. Illegal mining is hollowing the riverbed putting at risk the stability and ecology of rivers. This special report in Down To Earth examines the murky business of sand mining.

Where there is a river, there is sand. Called a minor mineral, it fulfils a major requirement of the booming construction industry. No wonder, many senior bureaucrats and politicians in power are hand-in-glove with local contractors to make huge gains from illegal sand mining. Even as the exchequer suffers, little attention is given to the long-lasting scars sand mining leaves on ecology. Communities fight on the river banks and in courts to keep sand reserves from getting exhausted. To read more: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/sand-slips

See Also

Feature: Andhra Pradesh HC firm on not lifting stay on sand mining.

In-court: Environment clearance mandatory for all mining sites - SC.

Feature: Sand mining in India.

In-court: HC order on sand mining.

Act: Kerala protection of river banks & regulation of removal of sand act, 2001

Rules: Kerala Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules 2011.

News: Sand mining ban lifted in 2 Maharashtra districts.

In-court: Bombay HC on sand mining.