Sand, the world's second most-consumed natural resource after water, often escapes scrutiny because it's seen as 'cheap' and 'abundant'. Yet, unchecked sand mining carries serious socioeconomic and environmental costs. Last week, in a welcome ruling, the Supreme Court underlined this fact and said that no approval can be granted for mining in a riverbed without a proper scientific study to assess how quickly the sand is naturally replaced. It described this 'replenishment study' as a mandatory requirement, upholding a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that had cancelled the 2022 environmental clearance for a mining project in J&K.

Illegal and excessive sand mining isn't unique to India. Across Asia and Africa, it destroys fishing grounds, farmlands and homes, increases water salinity and devastates ecosystems. Reduced river sediment leads to shrinking deltas, leaving communities vulnerable to flooding, storm surges, loss of land, contaminated water and crop damage. Sand mafias have long exploited this resource, often violently. Despite bans on unlicensed mining, these gangs operate with impunity.

The world consumes nearly 50 bn t of sand and gravel each year. Modern civilisation depends on this unassuming resource. Its grains are bound to build skyscrapers and can be broken down to produce microchips. Some of the US' greatest fortunes were built on this precious granular material. Henry J Kaiser, one of the wealthiest industrialists of 20th c., got his start selling sand and gravel to road builders in the Pacific Northwest. But despite its ubiquity, usable sand is finite. Desert sand, shaped by wind, is unsuitable for construction, making it scarce. India must treat it as a treasure, a strategic resource, not trash.