Kerala Government Move to Permit Sand Mining in 17 Rivers Draws Criticism

Environmental activists from the Society for the Protection of the Environment, Kerala (SPEK) raised concerns over the state government's decision to permit extracting 1.7 crore tonnes of sand from 17 rivers.

SPEK leaders argued that no environmental impact assessment appears to have been conducted for the initiative, which was officially presented as a flood mitigation step.

Activists warned that channel mining lowers riverbeds, destroys aquatic ecosystems and bottom-dwelling life, and threatens the livelihoods of local fishing communities.