CEC suggests 3-year roadmap to phase out unsustainable sand mining from active river channels

New Delhi: The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has suggested preparing a time-bound roadmap to phase out unsustainable sand extraction from active river channels over the next three years.

The committee, a statutory body since 2023 and originally formed in 2002 on the apex court's order, has also recommended developing sustainable alternative sources of sand and aggregates to progressively reduce dependence on extraction from active river channels.

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For this, it has suggested scientific desiltation of dams and reservoirs and recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, among other measures.

These recommendations are part of the CEC's report submitted to the Supreme Court on November 2 as part of a sou motu case related to illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary.

In its report, the CEC observes that while sand and gravel are crucial ingredients for infrastructure and construction, their unscientific or excessive extraction from active channels and floodplains disrupts the delicate dynamic balance of river systems.

"The impacts inter alia include riverbed degradation and infrastructure vulnerability, depletion of groundwater and loss of aquifers, destruction of aquatic and riparian habitats, and alteration of river morphology and hydrology, etc," said the committee.

It also highlights that there is no consolidated, reliable national database that quantifies the volume or value of illegally extracted river sand.

As a result, the CEC has recommended strengthening the existing regulatory and monitoring framework governing extraction from permissible areas.

This can be done through scientific identification of mineable stretches, regular replenishment studies, determination of sustainable extraction limits, environmental safeguards, digital tracking of mineral transportation and end-use and effective enforcement, it said.

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"A time-bound roadmap shall be prepared to progressively phase out unsustainable sand extraction from active river channels over the next three years, alongside development of adequate alternative sources, including reservoir sediment, M-sand and recycled C&D waste, while ensuring that legitimate construction requirements are met,” the CEC said in its report.

Moreover, the committee has said that there is an urgent need to develop sustainable alternative sources of sand and aggregates to progressively reduce dependence on extraction from active river channels.

"State governments shall promote the production and use of manufactured sand (M-Sand) through suitable incentives and quality certification, establish facilities for processing and recycling construction and demolition (C&D) waste into sand and aggregates, and permit recovery of sand and other materials from floodplains," suggested the CEC.

It also recommends that the Centre, in coordination with state governments, dam-owning agencies and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, initiate a time-bound National Programme for scientific desiltation of dams and reservoirs with the objective of developing an alternative and sustainable source of sand.

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