In partnership with IIT Kanpur, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has finalised a detailed scientific study on the geomorphic and ecological effects of sand mining in major rivers.
The Empowered Task Force (ETF) reviewed the final report of this project, which was unveiled by Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, at NMCG on September 29, 2025. Jal Shakti Secretary V L Kanta Rao emphasised that states’ involvement will advance this work nationwide.
The study, conducted by Prof Rajiv Sinha of the Department of Earth Sciences at IIT Kanpur, is based on high-resolution satellite data, drone surveys, replenishment volume estimation, and advanced modelling and provides actionable insights into the long-term degradation of river systems caused by unregulated sand mining. Prof Sinha emphasised the need to adopt a science-based framework for regulating river sand mining.
The ETF strongly recommended designing river-specific guidelines for regulating sand extraction based on hotspot management and zoning based on historical data analysis and assessment of reach-scale replenishment capacity of the river.
Director General of NMCG, Rajeev Kumar Mittal, advocated harmonising MoEF&CC’s Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines (2016) and Enforcement Guidelines (2020) with IIT Kanpur’s scientific recommendations.
Keeping in view the rapid and widespread degradation of rivers across the country because of sand mining, Prof Rajiv Sinha said a more comprehensive approach for regulating sand mining is urgently required, which should encompass flash flood risk assessment, bank erosion control, and groundwater recharge monitoring in mining zones. This will require a countrywide assessment of the impact of sand mining on rivers using modern technology such as high-resolution satellite and UAV remote sensing, and deep learning techniques for detecting and real-time tracking of sand mining.
This should lead to integrated basin–level, river-centric mining management plans for the Indian rivers. The ETF also recommended initiating pilot projects in selected stretches of the Himalayan and peninsular rivers to develop a Sand Mining Monitoring Module (SaMM) as a replicable framework for detecting and regulating sand mining. This will also require a comprehensive capacity Building for state government departments & Community Engagement programs, added the DG, NMCG.