Summary:

One of India's coastlines, Tamil Nadu, has been connected for the past 20 years to the nation's
largest illicit sand mining operation. Sand is not the only mineral that may be mined; bauxite,
magnesite, granite, and numerous placer minerals are also included. The government has
suffered enormous losses due to this illicit sand mining practice, which has also caused the
State's natural resources to deteriorate. Illegal mining of natural resources such as river sand,
granite, and placer minerals has transformed Tamil Nadu into a disaster waiting to happen. For
two decades, the country's natural resources were continuously exploited with disregard for the
environment and people's livelihoods in what could be called the mother of all thefts. The
government estimates that revenue losses and degraded natural assets-beach minerals, river sand,
bauxite, magnesite, granite, and so on-will cost INR 1.43/- lakh crore, according to sources who
requested anonymity. People in positions of power continue to be uninterested in resolving the
multifaceted problem. Exploitative practices harm the riverine ecosystem, affecting the lives and
livelihoods of those who rely on the river system, particularly those who rely on agriculture.
They are forced to relocate to cities in search of work, affecting their socio-cultural relationships.
The groundwater table is overexploited, increasing water salinity and rendering it unfit for
human consumption. With the construction industry booming and the resulting increased demand
for sand, the government, private players, and the sand mafia are all focused on maximizing
profits while ignoring the long-term consequences of uncontrolled mining activities. The existing
rules and regulations are only on paper. Attempts to regulate mining or the price of sand were
met with scorn. To continue indiscriminate quarrying in the State, the mining mafia creates
artificial scarcity. A corrupt political class and miners' cartels intimidate, manhandle, and even
murder anyone who stands up to them. The sand mafia encourages locals to form local cartels by
pumping large sums of money into them. The mining industry employs thousands of people in
the State and contributes roughly 4% of the country's GDP. Ecologists and activists are urging
the state and federal governments to conduct proper environmental and social audits of mining
operations with the assistance of an independent expert committee. Scientists believe that proper
sand dredging, rather than unscientific mining, should be done to keep the river bed at an
appropriate level.

Case Facts:
1.1. Interventions by the Government
 The Tamil Nadu government was ordered to stop by the Madurai bench of the
Madras High Court on August 7, 2014, for failing to disclose the precise amount
of river sand taken from the quarries in the Cauvery and Coleroon (Kollidam)
riverbeds.
 Government sources estimate the annual losses in terms of revenue and
deteriorated natural resources to be Rs. 1.43 lakh crore. According to order No.
451 from the Public Works Department, dated October 3, 2003, there are 239
active mining sites throughout the districts of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Karur,
 Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam, with nearly 60% of them being situated along the
Cauvery, Coleroon (Kollidam), and Amaravathi rivers.
 Only the cars and trucks used by loading and lifting companies were allowed
inside the quarry. The contractor will receive a royalty from outside parties who
want to purchase sand from him.
 Even though the PWD took over river mining in 2003, efforts to regulate mining
or sand prices were met with skepticism.
 On April 19, 2004, the State government amended Sub Rule 6 of Rule 36 (A) of
the TNMMC Rules to permit the restricted use of machinery for quarrying if it
"will not be damaging to ecology." This infuriated the court, which ordered the
State to change the TNMMC Rules to forbid the use of machinery.
 Based on this rationale, the government directed all DCs to employ earth movers
sparingly—no more than two should be used at a quarry site, except at locations
close to the Tamiraparani and Palar rivers.
 The State appeared dismissive of environmental concerns in the Cauvery
Neervala Athara Pathukappu Sangam case, which was heard alongside several
writ petitions, asserting that quarrying operations were conducted scientifically
by the PWD and that no environmental clearance from any agency was required.
1.2. Environmental concerns
 In Tamil Nadu, unrelenting exploitation of natural resources, such as river sand,
granite, and placer minerals, has gone on for the past 20 years, making the State a
disaster-prone area.
 Chennai (Palar and Vellar basins) and Tiruchi are the two central sand regions
(Cauvery basin). Millions of people's lives and livelihoods, as well as
environmental regulations, have been ignored by illegal sand mining.
Environmentalists estimate that the government loses between Rs20,000 and
Rs30,000 crore rupees annually due to illicit beach sand mining and Rs30,000
crore rupees annually due to illegal river sand mining.
 The southwest and northeast monsoons are the primary water sources. About 945
millimeters of rainfall on the state each year, of which 32 percent come from the
southwest monsoon and 48 percent from the northeast monsoon.
 The hydrological research conducted by the State concluded that all surface
water had been used up and that groundwater is only used up to 85% of its
capacity.
 In addition, 130 blocks are overexploited, and 183 essential blocks use
groundwater at a rate of 90 to 100 percent.
 Groundwater has been depleted to a depth of 300 feet, where it is unfit for human
consumption due to overuse.
  An exponential rise in sand consumption in the building industry is a significant
driver of illegal sand mining. Tamil Nadu consumes 20 lakh tonnes of cement on
average per month.
 Illicit mining has caused the flood in the region
1.3. Sand mining's effect on livelihoods
 Rural residents' livelihood is negatively impacted by illegal sand mining, and
agriculture is particularly affected. The livelihood of 4.5 lakh farmers is reliant
on the Cauvery River
 Tamil Nadu's villages along the banks of several rivers are severely water-short
in response to the widespread illegal sand mining. The once-lush, green villages
of the Vaigai-Periyar river regions are now home to small hills, harmed water
sources, polluted water sources, and crumbling infrastructure, posing a threat to
the villages' socio-economic stability.
 The villagers' migration situation has worsened due to these circumstances.
1.4. Sand Mining and mafia
 From Tiruvallur in Chennai in the north, close to Puducherry, to Kanyakumari in
the extreme south, the mining mafia operates throughout the State. Sand is
extracted in large quantities from beaches and riverbeds throughout Tamil Nadu.
In official paperwork, the issue seems manageable, but the reality is very
different.
 As of October 3, 2003, 239 quarries were operating, 60% of which were situated
close to the Cauvery, Coleroon (Kollidam), and Amaravathi rivers in the districts
of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Karur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam, according to the
Public Works Department (PWD).

Decision Problem:
Sand mining that is uncontrolled and illegally done is severely harming the Cauvery and
Amravati riverbeds, which has led to water shortages, groundwater depletion, and farmland
devastation. This is creating hindrance in doing agriculture activities which is the primary source
of income for the people of that region. It is vital to address the fear these mining mafias have
put up in the local population's minds, which prevents them from breaking the vicious cycle and
is causing the rise in the price of sand due to their artificial scarcity created.

Objective:
Short Term:
 Strict oversight of all sand mining activities and the contracts that are formed
 Consideration of opinion and input of local communities
 Assistance and contribution from the ruling party in solving this issue
Long term:
 Make sure that abundant livelihood options are not impacted by land mining.
 Carrying out sand mining activities sustainably