Alappuzha: A sand audit conducted by the Revenue Department in Kerala has estimated that approximately 1,70,25,861 tonnes of sand can be extracted from 14 river banks across the state. The audit was carried out in compliance with the requirements set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Out of Kerala's 44 rivers, the audit covered 33.

Due to environmental concerns, sand extraction has been deemed unfeasible in 16 rivers. However, in the remaining 17 rivers, a specific quantity of sand can be extracted to support river conservation and improve water flow. Among these, 14 rivers are estimated to hold about 1.7 crore tonnes of extractable sand. The process for sand extraction has reached its final stages.

The only step left is securing approval from the Department of Mining and Geology. Currently, there is no authorised sand extraction from rivers in Kerala. The price of sand brought from outside the state stands at around ₹6 per kilogram in the retail market. As a result, the 1.7 crore tonnes of extractable sand are valued at over ₹10,215 crore.

Rivers identified for potential sand extraction

The rivers identified for potential sand extraction include Pamba, Achankovil, Muvattupuzha, Periyar, Bharathappuzha, Chaliyar, Kadalundi, Valapattanam, Sreekantapuram, Perumba, Shiriya, Uppala, Chandragiri (Payaswini), and Mogral.

A total of 149 sand extraction sites across the districts of Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kannur, and Kasaragod have been marked. Of these, 40 sand mining sites span more than five hectares.

It is estimated that over one crore tonnes of sand can be extracted from 48 sand mining sites situated along the Bharathapuzha River in Malappuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts. Meanwhile, the Mogral River in Kasaragod mainly contains gravel, from which 28,405 tonnes can be extracted.

Additional findings from the sand audit

Beyond the audit findings, district-level assessments indicate that around 30.5 lakh tonnes of sand can be obtained from the Pamba, Bharathappuzha, and Sreekantapuram rivers. These estimates have undergone environmental impact assessments and received necessary approvals.

In total, the preliminary audit estimates the availability of 1.7 crore tonnes of extractable sand. However, sand from the Kulathupuzha, Manimala, and Mahe rivers will not be extracted for now.