Sand must be removed from rivers

The government should seriously evaluate Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan's view that sand should be removed to increase the depth of Kerala's rivers and expedite urgent action. Against the backdrop of natural disasters in Nepal and elsewhere, this view assumes considerable significance. The Vice President raised the issue while inaugurating the 115th-anniversary celebrations of Kerala Kaumudi in Alappuzha, describing it as a humble request to Kerala. If the sand and silt that have accumulated in rivers and dams over the years are removed, Kerala could be protected to a considerable extent from the damage caused by frequent floods. The Vice President also emphasised in his speech that he had told MPs about the need to increase the depth of the rivers.

If court orders are standing in the way of sand removal, the government should place the facts before the court and seek removal of the obstacle. The depth of the rivers ten years ago and today should be presented with supporting figures. No issue should be approached blindly through politicisation, as this could harm the development interests of the state, the Vice President said. The large quantities of sand that have accumulated in Kerala's rivers over the past eight years have still not been removed. The government's recent decision to remove them, though belated, is welcome. Following the 2018 floods, large quantities of sand and silt have accumulated in rivers and dams. This obstructs the flow during the rainy season and causes sudden flooding along the banks. Therefore, scientific sand removal is essential for flood prevention in Kerala.

A sand audit conducted in Kerala's 36 rivers found that 17 of them have sand deposits suitable for extraction. Sand removal must be permitted under government supervision and subject to strict criteria. The concerns of environmentalists that unscientific sand extraction could lead to the destruction of the rivers themselves must also be taken into consideration.

Removing sand will not only aid flood prevention but also generate crores of rupees in additional revenue for the government. The sand removed in this manner can be used for government construction as well as sold for private requirements. At the same time, no attempts from any quarter to plunder rivers under the guise of officially sanctioned mining should be allowed. The collectors of the respective districts should ensure this by using GPS and satellite survey systems.

Kerala Kaumudi has published a report on Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar's statement that sand extraction from the state's rivers will begin in January. The responsibility for sand extraction rests with the Revenue Department. The cooperation of the Local Self-Government, Water Resources, Industries and Environment departments is also necessary. A task force comprising the concerned senior officials of these departments should be formed for this purpose. Otherwise, the tendency for one department to proceed with action while another blocks it has been repeated many times in Kerala. The sand extraction project must be implemented transparently. The protection of the river ecosystem and the safety of people's lives and property must be given the highest priority.