Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to prepare detailed pan-India guidelines for silica sand mining and silica washing plants within three months.

Detail:

A silica sand washing plant is used to remove impurities and contaminants from silica sand. Both mining and washing pose health risks to people working in the plants or residing nearby. They also cause silicosis, an occupational lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of silica dust.

About Central Pollution Control Board

It is a statutory organisation, constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,

to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution, and
to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.

What is a Silica?

Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2, commonly found in nature as quartz. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one of the most complex and abundant families of materials, existing as a compound of several minerals and as a synthetic product.

Examples include fused quartz, fumed silica, opal, and aerogels. It is used in structural materials, microelectronics, and as components in the food and pharmaceutical industries. All forms are white or colorless, although impure samples can be colored.

Silica has three main crystalline varieties: quartz (by far the most abundant), tridymite, and cristobalite. Other varieties include coesite, keatite, and lechatelierite.

About Silica Sand Mining:

Sand mining is the extraction of sand, mainly through an open pit but sometimes mined from beaches and inland dunes or dredged from ocean and river beds.

Sand is often used in manufacturing, for example as an abrasive or in concrete. It is also used on icy and snowy roads usually mixed with salt, to lower the melting point temperature, on the road surface. Sand can replace eroded coastline.

Some uses require higher purity than others; for example sand used in concrete must be free of seashell fragments.

Sand mining presents opportunities to extract rutile, ilmenite, and zircon, which contain the industrially useful elements titanium and zirconium. Besides these minerals, beach sand may also contain garnet, leucoxene, sillimanite, and monazite.

Sand mining refers to the process of extraction of sand usually from an open pit. It is an activity in which sand is removed from the rivers, streams, and lakes. Beaches all over the world are being mined for sand for a variety of uses. Sand mining has tripled in the last two decades because of the increase in demand as reported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

Impacts of Silica Sand Mining

Course of the River	Alters the regular course, causing river erosion and increasing flood risk during monsoons.
Impact on Wildlife	Affects wildlife dependent on sandy banks for survival.
Aquatic Life	Disturbs water habitat, harming sea animals and affecting fishing livelihoods.
Coastal Barriers	Removing sand weakens barriers, exposing coastal areas to floods, cyclones, and tsunamis.
Riverbed Depletion	Deepening and widening of riverbeds increases water salinity.
Solar Radiation Exposure	Riverbeds dry out due to prolonged exposure to solar radiation.
Livelihood Impact	Affects homes, livelihoods, and communities living near riverbanks and beaches.
Aesthetic and Recreational Damage	Destroys picturesque beaches.
Groundwater Index	Creates deep pits in riverbeds, leading to a decline in the groundwater level.
Stream Physical Characteristics	Alters channel geometry, bed elevation, substratum composition, stability, and flow velocity.

Sand Mining in India:

Introduction	Sand mining in India often causes environmental damage, impacting rivers like Narmada, Chambal, and Betwa.
Major Affected Areas	Rivers in Madhya Pradesh, Kerala (Bharathappuzha), Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.
Driving Forces	Expansion of real estate and infrastructure sectors; lack of proper monitoring and regulation.
Economic Impact	Sand mining employs over 35 million people and is valued at $126 billion annually.
Legal Framework	Governed by the MMDR Act, 1957 and Environment Protection Act, 1986.
MMDR Act Provisions	Sand classified as a minor mineral. Section 15 allows State Governments to regulate minor minerals. Section 23-C enables States to prevent illegal mining.
Amendments in MMDR Act (2015)	Increased punishment: imprisonment up to 5 years, fine up to ₹5 lakh per hectare. Special courts for speedy trials.
Environment Protection Act	Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 mandates prior environmental clearance for leases ≥5 hectares.
Sustainable Mining Guidelines	Issued in 2016 and 2020 for monitoring, ecological protection, and ensuring river equilibrium.
Judicial Interventions	Courts emphasized sustainable development under Article 21 of the Constitution. Cases like Deepak Kumar v. State of Haryana and Anjani Kumar v. State of U.P. provided directions for stricter monitoring.
Challenges	Illegal mining activities. Lack of uniform regulations across States. Emergence of sand mafias.
Recommendations	Uniform guidelines for major and minor minerals. Cluster approach for smaller leases. Replenishment studies and river audits.
Recent Court Directions	Ban on mining in ecologically sensitive areas. Compensation for environmental damage and illegal sand value recovery.
Technological Solutions	Use of drones, night surveillance, and site inspections to monitor activities.

Practices in other countries:

Basis of Comparison	China	US	UK	Australia
Condition of Sand Mining	Least regulated, most corrupt, and environmentally damaging. Demand: ~50 billion metric tons/year.	Increasing demand; substitutes like crushed stone and recycled asphalt available.	Regulated by mineral planning policies.	Holds the world’s largest mineral sand deposits.
Prevailing Law	Mineral Resources Law, 1986 governs mining and registration of mining rights.	Covered under Materials Act, 1947 (earlier under Mining Law of 1873).	Requires landowner agreement, planning permission, and permits under Mineral Planning Authority.	Offshore Minerals Act, 1994 governs offshore mining.
Restrictions Imposed	Restrictions imposed on sand mining in March 2021.	Substitutes available for construction-grade sand.	Developed biodegradable construction material from desert sand with half the carbon footprint.	Labour Government pledged to end sand mining by 2025; overturned by Liberal National Party.
Alternatives	Construction material made from waste material.	Crushed stone, recycled asphalt.	Biodegradable material as strong as concrete, lower carbon footprint.	Manufactured sand, ore sand, mine waste.

Conclusion:

Sand mining in India, regulated as a minor mineral, suffers from poor enforcement despite a strong legal framework, leading to environmental degradation and illegal practices. Overextraction deepens rivers, destroys aquatic life, and destabilizes riverbanks. Effective regulation, leveraging technological advancements like remote monitoring, is essential to curb illegal activities and protect biodiversity. Governments must prioritize environmental sustainability in framing sand mining policies.

ALSO READ

Critical minerals of India

Understanding Silicosis and Lung Health Conditions

NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Silica mining plays a crucial role in various industries, but its unregulated extraction can lead to significant environmental and health impacts. Discuss the challenges associated with silica mining in India. (250 words)