In a recent move aimed at preserving the natural habitat of several rivers, the Congress-led-Karnataka government has decided to halt all sand mining operations and the removal of sandbars in four major waterways.
The Department of Mines and Geology, in its response to a notice from the National Green Tribunal’s Chennai Bench regarding complaints of illegal sand mining, stated that the Karnataka State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has received applications seeking permission to remove sandbars from the Sharavathi, Gangavali, Kali and Aghanashini rivers in Uttara Kannada district.
According to an official statement released by the department responsible for environmental conservation, the decision was made following a review of eight proposals for removing sandbars in the Sharavathi river, seven proposals in the Kali river, four in the Aghanashini river, and one in the Gangavali river.
The government’s decision is expected to have significant positive impacts on these rivers, which are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity. The protection of these water bodies will also help sustain local fishing communities that rely on them for their livelihood.
Environmentalists have hailed this move as a step towards restoring the health of the rivers, which have been affected by unregulated sand mining activities in recent years. They believe that ceasing such operations will not only protect the ecosystem but also prevent further erosion and degradation of riverbanks.
The Karnataka government’s initiative is part of a larger effort by various state administrations across India to prioritize environmental conservation and promote sustainable development practices.
