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Impacts of sand mining on aquatic ecosystem |
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by prayash pathak | 13-11-2016 22:45
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Most of the world's water sources are being mined for sand and gravel and the rate of extraction of sand and gravels from the water sources has increased at an alarming rate. Excessive sand mining practices are threatening the environmental security, recreational space longetivity and economic outlook of the future. Many extraction site are constructed near the river basins that are severly affecting the ecological equilibrium of river and riparian habitats. Any volume of sand extracted from streambed and coastal area is a loss to the system. A large number of impacts are seen in the local water resources due to such extraction. This article mainly concerns about such impacts. Excessive instream sand and gravel mining are lowering the stream bottom that is leading to bank erosion. Similarly, the depletion of sand in the streambed and along the coastal area causes the deepening of rivers and eustaries leading to the enlargement of river mouths. Instream mining causes destruction of the aquatic habitat by causing water channel instability. Continue extraction may cause the entire streambed to degrade to the depth of excavation. Sand mining also effects the adjoining groundwater system and the uses that the local people make out of river. Degraded stream habitat results in the loss of fisheries productivity, biodiversity and recreational potential. Largely mined channels lowers the aesthetic value of land and river. One of the commonly seen secondary impact is the destruction of the local forest near the extraction site for the docking and easy removal of sand. So such hazardous effects of sand mining can never be overlooked. The most effective way to prevent illegal sand mining is to strongly enforce the legal rules as set by the government. There are more environmentally sustainable alternatives to sand including slag from the metal industry, quarry dust and recycled debris. Researches for testing the feasibility of synthetic sand so that it can be used to replace natural sand should be promoted. Similarly abandoned stream channels should be preferred rather than active channels. Mining below subterranean water level should be avoided. Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) should be a compulsion for each and every sand mining industry. |
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12 Comments
Hello prayash
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report
Green cheers
Regards
Asmita Gaire
Posted 12-05-2020 18:56
good report
Posted 07-02-2018 21:54
thanks for sharing
Posted 07-02-2018 21:45
Yes Gadala the major role is of government.
Posted 15-02-2017 16:35
very true, the government has a big role to play in fighting these
Posted 28-01-2017 10:57
Thanks Peter.
Posted 08-12-2016 00:16
Great to know that
Posted 07-12-2016 19:29
Thanks Joshua its a pleasure to write such articles.
Posted 05-12-2016 12:56
It is very important that you have recognized such an important issue and spreading awreness on it.
Posted 05-12-2016 00:32
Indeed one of the major reason for depletion of our water resouces in mining. Furthermore the fact that even after all this, still the government is sitting blindfolded is a bitter one.
Posted 27-11-2016 20:49
Hope environmentally sustainable alternatives will get its position and illegal sand mining will be strongly enforced. Its a really sad story for the naturally beautiful country like NEPAL.
Posted 27-11-2016 13:40
Thank u for ur insight....
Posted 18-11-2016 20:53