Which Indian River has received the most national attention for severe ecological damage caused by illegal sand mining, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Ganga
Explanation
The Ganga River has received the most extensive national attention, judicial intervention, and media coverage due to the widespread ecological damage caused by rampant illegal sand mining along its banks and tributaries, particularly across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Illegal sand mining alters the natural flow of the river, accelerates severe bank erosion, lowers the water table, and destroys the critical breeding grounds of endangered aquatic species. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has repeatedly issued strict bans, heavy penalties, and regulatory directives to curb these illicit operations in the Gangetic basin to protect its highly vulnerable riparian ecosystem.
Key Points
The continuous extraction of sand from the riverbed destroys the specific nesting habitats of the critically endangered Gharial (fish-eating crocodile) and threatens the survival of the Ganges River Dolphin.
The Narmada River in central India and the Krishna River in southern India have also faced regional sand mining issues, but the scale, political focus, and judicial scrutiny surrounding the Ganga basin remain the highest nationally.
The Palar River is a seasonal river flowing through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, which suffers heavily from sand depletion, but it is located entirely outside the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar geographies specified in the question.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which statutory judicial body in India frequently handles petitions and issues directives against illegal sand mining in the Ganga River?
Answer: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is the primary judicial body responsible for environmental cases in India.
Question: What is a major hydrological impact of excessive sand mining on a riverbed?
Answer: It causes severe riverbed degradation, lowers the groundwater table in adjoining areas, and drastically increases the speed of water flow leading to massive soil erosion during floods.