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| Sand mining in Morena on River Chambal |
Looks
like, we have become blind to the consequences of our actions. In our quest for
development, more importantly in the quest of legitimate or illegitimate wealth,
everyone – from a businessman to a real estate thug or a politician – is out to
milk the natural environment of the country regardless of the consequences of
their interventions on it that eventually impact the people at large.
Of
late, numerous people including politicians have been claiming that Bhopal has
become a real estate hub of the country. Perhaps, the claim is justified. Even a layman can
see the ads in the newspapers about the new constructions that are ceaselessly
coming up all around the city. None knows whether these are coming up with or
without a plan, the new City Development Plan being now overdue by as many as
12 years. Reports have indicated from time to time that these are coming up in
accordance the 2005 City Development Plan but that seems to be farfetched as
the lands earmarked in 2005 must have already been used up leaving little, if
at all, for new constructions.
All
that, however, is beside the point; what is important to know is that the
break-neck pace of construction in and around Bhopal has exponentially raised
the demand for sand in meeting which the rivers of the region are being denuded
of it. A report recently appeared that as many as 32 big and small rivers of
the region have lost most of their waters and some have even gone dry. Even a
fairly big river like Betwa, a tributary of Yamuna, was recently reported to
have gone dry at Vidisha. People have been wondering as to how this could
happen this year after a bountiful monsoon. But, every action has its reaction.
It seems the farmers have been illegally diverting water from the river for
irrigation. Then, of course, the main reason of indiscriminate mining of sand –
legal or illegal, more of the latter – has to be accounted for.
Even
after hefty bribes paid at various points before delivery of the stuff mining
of sand is immensely profitable. It produces quick bucks and the unscrupulous
miners have enriched themselves. Bribes and political backing does the trick.
From the reports one gets it seems to be free for all; only one has to be
resourceful, has to have right connections, has to be unscrupulous enough and
unconcerned about the environment and its future and, bingo, money rains down
on to one’s lap. One recalls the sad incident of a young Indian Police Service
office sacrificing his life to stop the sand mafia from carrying out their
sinister operations. He was just run over by a heavy vehicle of the mafia.
The government’s indifference tells a tale of
apathy and utter unconcern for the rivers of the region that may result in a
bleak future for it. Denuding of the rivers is likely to entail water-stress in
the region adversely affecting the millions of the region. That in-stream sand
mining causes degradation of rivers is well known. Not only does the river bed
is deprived of the protective layer of sand that holds water keeping the nearby
aquifers charged, continued extraction may cause the stream to degrade the river
up to the depth of excavation. This causes severe damage to physical and
biological environment of the river systems. Drying up of rivers is one of the
serious consequences which could lead the neighbouring areas to become
water-stressed. The rampant destruction of riverine eco-systems all over
country needs hardly any mention. Madhya Pradesh, however, walks away with the
cake in this regard.
In fact, indiscriminate sand mining in rivers
is virtually like digging one’s own grave. For the folly of the current
generation future generations may have to pay heavily. In this connection, a
mention needs to be made of the hypocrisy of MP government which is running a
Narmada Seva Yatra – journey along the river to serve the Narmada River. Behind
it what is being done is exactly opposite of “Seva”. Tons of sand is being extracted
from the river, mostly illegally. It was reported that 1000 trucks ply on the road
between Hoshangabad and Bhopal every night transporting sand with predetermined
rates of bribe to be paid at various check points. Even the close relatives of
the chief minister were found to have been involved.
No
wonder, none raised the issue, not even in the Legislative Assembly except in
feeble voices. The crooks, including politicians, are playing with the future
of the region. If today the agri-GDP of the state is climbing at the rate of
around 14% it is likely to plummet in the ensuing years if the state’s rivers
are ceaselessly ravaged.
Unfortunately,
the government is unmindful of the damage that is being wrought in state’s
river systems. Curiously, the toothless bodies like the State Pollution Control
Board or other public organizations charged with the responsibility o
conserving the state’s physical environment have been mutely watching the loot
that is going on. One hopes that it is not too late already to restore the
rivers in question to their pristine condition.
*Photo from internet
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