The illegal removal of sand from riverbeds and beachfronts has triggered debate on the many legal challenges of regulating a sector driven by cartels and mafias. On the one hand, there are reports of district administration officials taking action on illegal sand mining and facing threats or having been issued transfer notices. On the other hand, there have also emerged critical judicial directions that have pushed the need to ensure that sand mining is regulated for environmental impact.
Sand mining is practised the world over for riverbed management and is also used by local people for small-scale construction. However. . .
