According to a UNEP report, sand is the 2nd most extracted natural resource after water and sand mining is one of the major sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
Coastal sand mining is one of the concerns related to sand mining. It has various environmental impacts like:
1. Coastal erosion affecting coastal terrain and communities.
2. Deepening of rivers and estuaries, and enlargement of river mouths.
3. Saline water intrusion and flooding.
4. Creates turbidity in seawater affecting the marine ecosystem and wildlife.
It poses a larger challenge for India that has a coastline of more than 7000 km. For instance:
1. Excessive sand mining in Gahirmatha beach is disturbing the nesting grounds of olive ridley turtles.
2. Sea water intrusion, inundation of coastal land along the coast of Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam due to sand mining.
3. NGT imposed 100 crores fine on Andhra Govt due to Illegal sand mining.
Thus, strengthening policy frameworks and using alternatives like M-sand (an artificial sand) or quarry dust material, is the need of the hour which can help reduce sand mining, if not completely stopped.