Kerala rain fury: Delayed sand mining from rivers worsened disaster

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The failure to implement the decision to remove sand from rivers caused many rivers in the state to overflow during the monsoon. In some areas, swamps and streams were filled and encroached upon. The government permitted in May 2025 the extraction of sand from 17 rivers in eight districts where sand availability was ample. This was mentioned in the sand audit report.

The order of the Revenue Department approved the 12-point guidelines prepared by the Institute of Land and Disaster Management. However, the tender process for other rivers was stalled after the sand removal from Pamba River was enmeshed in a legal dispute. People's representatives had demanded that the government remove the legal hurdles and remove sufficient sand from the rivers.

The government decided to dredge sand, assessing that it would protect rivers that had accumulated sand during the floods and bring solace to the sand shortage.