Is There A Way Of Making Sand Mining In India Sustainable? Find Out Here
Sand mining in India is very important to support infrastructure and other things. But can we reverse the ill effects of sand mining on the environment? Read more to know.
The largest and perhaps most important mining industry is rarely discussed and that is, Sand Mining in India. About 85 percent of all earth's minerals are simple and widely available: sand. Because it is cheap and readily available, it is mined by everyone from a boy with a shovel or to a multi-million dollar machine. Most of the sand is used to make concrete, but the migration of sand leads to the catastrophic destruction of coastal, sea, and ocean areas and nature.
Urban development and urban sprawl are growing rapidly in every corner of the globe to cater to the ever-increasing population and our levels of satiety and expansion. According to the United Nations, the urban population has more than quadrupled in the 1950s. More than 50 percent of the world's population now live in urban areas and an additional three billion people are expected to move to cities in the next 29 years. Thus the increasing population increases the need for infrastructure. This, in turn, increases the need for sand mining in India.
Ways Of Making Sand Mining Sustainable:
The naturalists suggest that the extraction of sand blocks from the rivers should only be done at a predetermined rate. It allows the river to replenish the soil every year. However, this sustainable number will never equate with the undeveloped human need for development.
There are many suggestions for improving the sustainability of the mining industry in India and sand blocks:
Offshore Sand Mines: Many mining industries in India now find much of their sand away from the sea to protect the ecosystem of rivers and coasts. But much of this sand is used only for land reform projects where the salt content is not a problem.
Sand From Under-Water Bed: Another unused resource is sand blocks that collect at the bottom of lakes. Digging ponds not only provided sand but also helped to increase storage capacity. Environmentalists, however, say that the sand should be reclaimed from rivers flowing into dams.
Recycle Debris: Debris from demolished buildings can be used to produce concrete, reducing the need for new sand. Glass can also be recycled, which also reduces the demand for sand.
Mining On Flood Plains: Sand mining in floodplains, rather than on riverbanks and tributaries, is thought to be less harmful. However, floodplains also have a fragile nature. Floodplains are home to rare species of carnivorous plants now endangered by mining operations.
Converting Sand To Concrete: Ashes from hot materials and dust from rock quarries can be used to produce concrete to reduce the demand for sand.
Therefore, these are some measures through which sand mining companies can ensure continuing their operations without harming the environment. One such company is Abhinna Mining, a sand mining company in India that operates in an eco-friendly manner.