a sheer murder of the river

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A Sheer Murder of the River A Sand Mining Case Study

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A Case Study done by Prayatna Samiti, Udaipur Submitted to SPWD, Udaipur (Study year: 2011-12)

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Credits

Prayatna Samiti, Udaipur Case Study coordinated by: Mohan Dangi, Secretary Case Study done by: Darpan Chhabra Field support: Daya Ram, Mohan Dangi, Gagan Deep Rajpurohit , Udai Lal, Dhule Singh Designing: Darpan Chhabra

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Table of contents Chapter Page

A. About Case Study 5

B. Study Concept 6

C. Village Sources 7

D. Study Tools 8

E. Study Area 9

1. Implications of Sand Mining 11

1.1. Eroding Soils of River Aavara 12

1.2. Receding Water Level in Wells 17

1.3. Loss in Agriculture 19

1.4. Loss in Flora 21

1.5. Diseases Spread due to Water Contamination 22

1.6. Migration 23

2. Job Involvement Levels 24

2.1. Labour in Sand Mining 25

2.2. Land Leasing 27

3. Advent of Technology in Sand Mining Sector 28

4. Value Chain of Sand Mining 30

5. Reforms Undertaken 33

5.1. Measures to be Taken 34

5.2. Efforts Made 35

5.3. Mass Movement 36

6. Projections 37

7. Inference 40

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The case study “A Sheer Murder of the River” deals with the affect of rapid sand mining on the livelihood of villagers. The study emphasizes on the loss of common land which is of utmost importance. The study states the loss of agriculture tending the people to migrate as labours. Wells’ water levels are going down at speedy rates with its implications on agriculture, livestock and dwellers’ live. Since last 30 years intensive mining has completely washed the sand contents causing the loss in water, flora and fauna.

Involvement of villagers in the activity is another aspect studied. Most of people living along the river banks lease their land to the miners and others are involved as labours. In sake of earning fast money common lands at this stage are leased to miners. Appeals under FRA and PESA filed by the villagers are remained unheard. Local efforts for water conservation are under process. Projections sates that loss in agriculture will increase but the new technologies will try to sustain the livelihoods in the water deficit areas.

About Case Study

A

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According to community the rampant sand mining is visible since 30 years. Rapid digging of river bed of Aavara River is operational 20 hours a day with continuous movement of trolleys in and out the villages. A count by localites says 600 trucks (19,200 ton) carries the sand daily to Udaipur city which is 55 km from the periphery of 1000 ha area of study villages. Massive degradation of river at such an escalating speed has almost finished the water holding capacity of river; livelihood based agricultural activities are being disturbed; floral and faunal loss has affected the animal husbandry trends. The river is deepening at the rate of 4.7 ft per year. Agriculture is toppling to 2 kg loss per year almost making the sustainable livelihoods the unsustainable ones. Estimates shows that involvement of people in migration and labour work rather than agriculture and animal husbandry will increase in coming years. With 2 people per family migration to cities will touch to 3 persons. Viewing the situation of sand mining and its affect 5 villages have been taken under the scanner of the study. To track the proliferation of mining and its affects the case here is studied from the last 4 years to present year. Bori, Aavara, Gudel, Kalodia and Dhimidi villages located at 55 km from Udaipur are believed to highlight the case at national level and bring the relief to other communities as well. The study revolves around the implications, involvement of village population in sand mining activities, and reforms undertaken to combat sand mining. Implications are: the eroding soils of the river Aavara; receding water level in the wells; loss of livelihood based activities agriculture and livestock; loss of flora; diseases spread due to water contamination. Involvement of village population in sand mining activities: involvement of population in land leasing and labour; value chain of sand mining. As one of the revolutionising study this also seeks the reforms undertaken to combat sand mining – alternative livelihoods; measures to be taken; efforts made; and mass movement of people against such life taking process. Observations tell that scope of mining is also becoming refined in itself. Advent of technology has made the process an efficient and high yielding job. The study also incorporates the advent of JCBs, dumpers and large sieves which are able to hold more tons a day.

Study Concept

B

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We are thankful to community persons whom we met and conducted FGD with them. Village wise sources are given below: Bori village: Partar ji Lakhma ji Caring ji Bhanwar Singh ji Aavara village: Amar Chand Patel (Former Sarpanch) Nanga Ram ji Wal ji Patel Rodi Lal ji Gudel village: Nanga Ram Patel s/o Teja ji Patel Kalodi village: Ratan Lal ji Patel (Sarpanch) Khem Raj ji Patel Shanker Lal ji Patel Dhimli village: Hem Lata Sharma, Ward Panch Bhagwanti Sharma, Anganwadi worker

Village Sources

C

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Following were the appropriate tools considered to document the study: Interview: Taken of those who are involved in village development activities. Labour involved in sand mining was also interviewed. Focused Group Discussions: Involved village informative persons and who tried to work reforms in and outside the village. Loss in income, impacts, migration, alternative livelihoods were also taken under consideration. Measurement: River, sand loss, flora, and fauna, well water levels were taken under the measurement tools.

Study Tools

D

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The case study is being documented from sand mining struck villages of Girwa and Vallabhnagar blocks (tehsils) of Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The river Aavara covering approximately 32 km stretch across the villages of Bori, Aavara, Gudel, Kalodia and Dhimidi is under rapid degradation due to ongoing process of sand mining. Population details:

Villages Land area (ha) Households Average family size Bori 200 200 4 Aavara 400 120 4 Gudel NA NA NA Kalodia 60 100 4 Dhimidi NA 50 6

(Source: A primary source information)

Existing agriculture scenario:

Villages

Average Land hold per farmer (ha) Rabi crop

Land allocation to rabi (ha) Kharif crop

Land allocation to Kharif (ha)

Bori 1.5 Indigenous wheat variety 1

Indigenous maize variety 1

Aavara 1 Indigenous wheat and mustard 1

Indigenous maize and Guar 1

Gudel 3.7 Indigenous wheat 3.7

Indigenous maize and Urad (Phaselous mungo) 3.7

Kalodia 1 Indigenous wheat and jao 1

Indigenous maize and cluster beans 1

Dhimidi 1

Indigenous wheat and jao, mustard and channa 1

Indigenous maize, cluster beans and urad 1


Study Area

E

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Existing livestock population:


Villages

Average number of cows per household

Average number of buffaloes per households

Average number of goats per households

Average number of livestock per house hold

Bori 2 2 4 8 Aavara 2 3 2 7 Gudel 2 1 2 5 Kalodia 3 3 3 9 Dhimidi 1 1 2 4

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Implications of Sand mining

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River deepening is calculated as the average loss in the volume of soil at community dwelling sites. Rapid sand mining as community observes causes the loss of 3.5 ft depth per year. The measurements taken in Aavara and Kalodia shows a respective loss of 3.5 ft and 2.4 ft in depth per year. Calculations below signify the loss in sand in recorded 4 years:

Site 1 – Aavara river near Himulva Well, Aavara village: (length is taken as 100 ft as sample area)

(Source: Primary information and measurements)

Site 2 – Aavara river near Himulva Well, Aavara village: (length is taken as 100 ft as sample area)

Years

Depth from the river bed to surface (ft)

Wideness (ft) Length (ft)

Volume loss (cubic ft)

2007-08 2.1 129 100 27090 2008-09 3.1 136.3 100 42253 2009-10 3.6 137 100 49320 2010-11 4.5 139.4 100 62730 (Source: Primary information and measurements) Site 3 – Aavara river at Aavara and Jhamari river junction, Aavara village: (length is taken as 100 ft as sample area)

Years




2009-10 4.3 516 100 221880 2010-11 9 530 100 477000 (Source: Primary information and measurements)

Years




2007-08 3 146 100 43800 2008-09 3.2 149 100 47680 2009-10 3.5 155 100 54250

2010-11 4.2 160 100 67200

Eroding Soils of River Aavara

1.1

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Site 4 – Aavara river at Kalodia village: (length is taken as 100 ft as sample area)

Years




2007-08 3.4 155 100 52700 2008-09 5 157 100 78500 2009-10 8 160 100 128000 2010-11 8.2 160 100 131200 (Source: Primary information and measurements)

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3 3.2 3.5 4.2

146 149155 160

100 100 100 100

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Depth from the river bed to surface (ft) Wideness (ft) Length (ft)

Year wise comparison in loss the loss in depth, and wideness keeping the length stationary at Site 1:

Year wise comparison in loss the loss in volume keeping the length stationary at Site 1:

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000


2008 09 10 11

2008 2009 2010 2011

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Site 2:

Site 3:

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000


0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000


2008 09 10 11

2010 2011

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Site 4:

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000


2008 09 10 11

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Measurement of water level in wells show that water recede from 3 to 4.7 ft every year which is valued in December (3 months after rain). This equals to water level in river Aavara. Last 2 years sets good amount of rain which according to wells’ owners were enough to fill the wells but during droughts or less rains water breaks out in 15 days. In summers water level falls down to touch the bottom. In April to July 2011 water fell by 45 ft. Several wells falling inside the river are been exposed breaking their boundaries. Pressure on wells due to 3 hours operation of motors makes them water deficit accounting with recovery in 24 hours. Efforts are been made to dig wells but most of them went futile. Present wells demand deepening every one year. In Aavara village 100 new wells of 90 ft to 100 ft were constructed by farmers out of which 65% are running successful.

Present status of water level in wells:

Villages No. of wells Depth of well (ft)

Present water level from the top (ft) in December year 2010-11

Present water level from the top (ft) in March year 2010-11

Bori 50 80 4 45 Aavara 80 50 to 100 5 40 Gudel - 100 5 20 Kalodia 30 80 4 30 to 35 Dhimidi 15 50 4.7 45

(Source: Primary information and measurements)

Receding Water Level in Wells

1.2

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Graph plot against the well water level in Aavara village during last 4 years in different seasons:

Graph plot against the well water level in Dhimdi village during last 4 years in different seasons:

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

wat

er

leve

l in

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lls i

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t fr

om

to

p

Years

Well water level (ft) during October to December

Well water level (ft) during March to July

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

wat

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Years

Well water level (ft) during October to December

Well water level (ft) during March to July

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Partar ji, a farmer from Bori says, since last 2 years he has lost a 2 quintal of wheat and maize produce because of the loss in water level in the wells and river. The present production of wheat is 6 bori (sacs) per bigha (0.25 hectares) with the input of 50 kg, where as maize accounts 5 bori per bigha with input of 1 quintal. Integration of mustard and wheat yields 12 bori per bigha; combination of maize and guwar produces 6 bori per bigha. Loss of water in wells is posing a severe problem in front of farmers. Every year water level falls from 3 ft to 4.7 ft. Condition get worse in droughts when the wells become unable to hold water. Testing of new varieties of crops and soil fertility and reclamation is the new move suggested from the farmers to enhance the production from limited land. Lakhma ji from Bori and Nanga Ram ji from Aavar are optimistic to test alternative variety of wheat and maize along with improved practices to harness the voluminous production.

Loss in Agriculture

1.3

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A graphical presentation showing the fall in rabi production since last 2 years:

A graphical presentation showing the fall in kharif production since last 2 years:

0 2 4 6 8 10

Bori

Aavara

Gudel

Kalodia

Dhimidi

Rabi production per bigha (0.25 ha) from 2007-08 to 2010-11

Rabi production (quintals)/bigha 2010-11




0 2 4 6 8 10

Bori

Aavara

Gudel

Kalodia

Dhimidi

Kharif production (quintals)/bigha 2010-11




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Rising up of Aavara river banks from 4.6 ft to 5 ft and widening from 1ft to 1.5 ft every year has uprooted the green herbs and grasses. Konkuta, Ratanjot, Pangta, Dongla from Bori;, Dongla, Motia, and Dobie from Aavara; Doob, Motia and Dongla from Gudel; Henkli, Aakodia, Dhava, Hawa, and Dobdi from Kalodia are now been rare to find. A rich amount of biomass of 50 kg per 0.5 hectare (from flora dense sites) comprising only of grasses is assessed to be dilapidated during 3 years. Further, dumping of large stone pieces and heavy gravels residue of sand has suppressed the growth of germinating seeds.

Loss of Flora

1.4

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As the bed rock of the area comprises of fluoride rich material rapid vibrations, digging and erosion of sand mixes fluoride with air and water making the water contaminated. The consumed water causes diseases like thyroid, bronchitis and arthritis. Most of the villages have reported Arthritis as one of the prominent disease starting from the age of 45 for both men and women.

Diseases Spread due to Water Contamination

1.5

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Almost 50% of the family members from each family migrate for six months as labour to the nearest cities, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Mumbai. Working in hotels, mills and factories they earn from Rs 6,000 to 8,000 per month out of which Rs 2,000 comes in hand wage. In Bori village every 1 family member goes out in search of labour whereas Kalodia stages 30 people mark out of house every season. According to village sources this is due to the soil erosion that the dynamics is disturbing and will contribute in future. Past 4 years records show that future generation of the farmers is not attracted to the agriculture and livestock activities due to less earning job and this is due to the scarcity of water and lack of manpower. In 2007-08, only 1 member out of 4 families went to seek labour; in 2008-09, the number rose to 2; in 2009-10 atleast 1 of the family member goes to labour.

1.6 Migration

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Job Involvement Levels

2

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The most visible reason behind the involvement of labours in sand mining is fast and high money making. From Aavara out of 120 households 15 are being involved as labours; from Kalodia out of 100 a 4 families are labours; from Dhimidi 36 out of 50 families are involved as labour; where as Bori and Gudel accounts for 0 labour. It has been noticed that the involvement of labour has bee increased from the villages which is less than expected. This is due to the advent of new technologies like JCBs, large sieves and dumpers which are capable of refining 34 tons in 2 hours in comparison to 5 hours manual process. Rapid rate of sand mining has put some 200 ha patch from Aavara village to sand deficit area. This also accounts to the reason that 4 people every month are loosing their jobs in sand mining.

2.1 Labour in Sand Mining

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The table below depicts the labour type and the present level of income from sand mining:

Villages Years Labour type Number of people

Daily earning per member (Rs)

Daily earning of village (Rs)

Bori

2009-10

No (as the process is mechanical)

NA

NA

NA

2010-11

No (as the process is mechanical)

NA

NA

NA

Aavara

2009-10 Tractor service 12 NA NA

2010-11 Tractor service 15

Rs 60 per tractor*8 trips = Rs 480

Rs 60 per tractor*8 trips*15 tractors = Rs 7,200

Gudel 2009-10 No NA NA NA 2010-11 No NA NA NA

Kalodia

2009-10 Sand diggers and fillers 2 NA NA

2010-11 Sand diggers and fillers 4

Rs 400 per truck filling*2 trucks = Rs 800

Rs 400 per truck filling*2 trucks*4 people = Rs 3,200

Dhimidi

2009-10 Sand diggers and fillers 30 NA NA

2010-11 Sand diggers and fillers 36

Rs 250 per truck*2 trucks = Rs 500

Rs 250 per truck*2 trucks*36 people = Rs 18,000


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A trend is evolved that the common land which falls under the vigilance of farmer is his/her property. When this amount of land becomes unusable as it lies under the river territory it is leased to the sand miners. The practice also highlights the encroachment of commons by the community. Land is leased to the miners at the rate of tractor and trucks’ trips which provides high amount of money ranging from Rs 20 to 2,000:

Villages Years Amount of land leased

Number of people

Daily earning per member (Rs)

Daily earning of village (Rs)

Bori

2009-10 No NA NA NA

2010-11 No NA NA NA

Aavara

2009-10 0.05 ha 85 NA NA

2010-11 0.05 ha 90

Rs 20 per tractor*8 trips = Rs 160

Rs 20 per tractor*8 trips*90 people = Rs 14,400

Gudel

2009-10 0.25 ha NA NA NA

2010-11 0.25 ha 75 Rs 200 per day

Rs 200*75 people = Rs 15,000

Kalodia

2009-10 0.2 ha 15 NA NA

2010-11 0.2 ha 16

Rs 150 per trip of tractor*8 trips = Rs 1,200

Rs 150 per trip of tractor*8 trips*16 people = Rs 19,200

Dhimidi

2009-10 0.05 ha 30 NA NA

2010-11 0.05 ha 30 Rs 2,000 per truck trip

Rs 2,000*30 = Rs 60,000


2.2 Land Leasing

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Advent of Technology in Sand Mining Sector

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Introduction of large sieves and dumpers ahs fasten the process of sand mining. This has also reduced the number of labour. Where it took 10 labours in 4 hours process this has improved to 1 for 8 minutes. To the input dumpers and JCBs has encouraged the process to carry 35 tons per 1 hour. Enhancement in mining speed has surely speeded up the degradation rate. According to local sources 600 trucks moves daily from the area of 1000 ha which carries 19,200 tons.

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Value Chain of Sand Mining

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Sand diggers and fillers (this also

includes JCBs)

Earning: Rs 60 per tractor and Rs 300 per truck

Sand may be carried directly to market

For further refining sand is carried to sieve

Sieve to tractor: Rs 120 per tractor

Refined sand is filled in truck

Truck to sieve: Rs 150 per truck

Truck at toll tax

Truck to taxation policy Rs 600 per trip

Truck at market

Market to truck

Rs 6,000 per truck

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Market to customer

Market to customer: Rs 300 per quintal

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Reforms Undertaken

5

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In response to sand mining, community is willing to adapt new technology to sustain their livelihoods. This involves introduction to improved practices incorporating testing of productive varieties of wheat and maize. Te demand has come from the village of Bori and Aavara to test Lok 1 wheat and FEM 2 maize. A demonstration of fertile soil is also in demand. Naga Ram Patel, son of Teja ji Patel proposes a series of check dams across the river. This will raise the water level in wells and enhance the production in pasture land.

5.1 Measures to be taken

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Several check measures have been under taken to harvest underground and surface water. Development activities come under the panchayat work. At house hold level several farmers in Gudel have constructed new wells and ground water harvesting tanks. Pipe lines connected from tanks to field area have improved the land production with horticulture activities.

Table below defines the efforts made at village level to harvest water potential:

Villages

Water Harvesting Structure

Check Dam Anicut

Loose Stone Check Dam Well Pond

Bori 0 0

1 ( construction year 2007-08) 0

1 (2007-08)

Aavara 0 3 (2009-10) 1 (2008-09)

100 (2009-10) 0

Gudel - - - - -

Kalodia - - - - -

Dhimidi 0 1 (2007-08) 0 0 0


5.2 Efforts Made

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The phenomenon reiterates the pattern of sustainable development. It seems to be difficult when half of the people from the same village are involved in mining. In Dhmidi itself 20 out of 50 families are been involved. However, people from Kalodia have filed several appeals in Gram Panchayat but none of them is heard, says Ratan Lal Patel from Kalodia. According to the people the orders of sand mining are passed by the state government. They need a unity to fight against State government to curb such a critical phenomenon.

5.3 Mass Movement

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Projections

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Estimates shows that the mining will retard in coming times. Varying pattern of rainfall and loss of sand will surely disturb the land productivity. Reduction in well water will account for the loss in 3 quintals of agriculture in coming 4 years. Unavailability of water will strike the livestock sector. Income level will fall down at rate of Rs 1,200 per annum. At this stage willingness of farmers to adapt the improved varieties of crops and bio fertilizers will positively play the role to sustain the incomes. As the orders of mining are secured with the State Government Panchayat bodies are unable to move the gear. However, State government may have the proposals for next 4 years but the land productivity and rain fall will be the factor in light. For the upcoming 3 years rapid urbanisation to two fold and expansion of markets in and around Udaipur and advancement in technology forecasts that mining will continue from the selected sites but during the last years (2012-13 and 2013-14) it will retard as the more of the river depth would have been exploited. At this stage widening process can find some scope. Last 2 years of forecasted period shows a little progress in mining. Below mentioned are the projections for the sites for upcoming 3 years (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14):

Projections for Site 1 – Loss in depth, wideness and volume keeping length stationary:

Years

Depth from the river bed to surface (ft) Wideness (ft) Length (ft)


2007-08 3 146 100 43800

2008-09 3.2 149 100 47680

2009-10 3.5 155 100 54250

2010-11 4.2 160 100 67200

2011-12 4.6 164 100 75440

2012-13 5 166 100 83000

2013-14 4.9 170 100 83300

Projections for Site 1 – Year wise comparison in loss the loss in volume keeping the length stationary:

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0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000


0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000


Projections for Site 4 – Year wise comparison in loss the loss in volume keeping the length stationary:

2008 09 10 11 12 13 14

2008 09 10 11 12 13 14

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Inference

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Most of the stories round the world shows that economy is given priority at the cost of natural degradation. In the era of sustainable development where the developing countries are still fighting to build the impact between the environment and economy sand mining seems to be a contentious issue. This is not only the issue which is being practical in the village. Use of chemical fertilizers, irrigation pumps and set up of brick kilns are other volcanoes at resting stage. Involvement of villagers can’t be ignored where such a profiting jobs are evolving to attract the local labours. Treating this as one of the attractive alternative sources of income the daily cash money earning of one labour is Rs 300 which is double than the existing labour cost and 4 times the agriculture and livestock. Over the time villages will be at jolt. Rapid land degradation and migration will tend the villages to become stark. At present youths are reluctant to carry on livelihoods. NREGA and labour work are pulling the manpower. Alternative varieties of crops is a good move from the farmers but in the rain fed climate farmers will still be at the losing side specially when hike in the global prices and unavailability of labour be at demanding position. People are coming forward to fight against the issue but the efforts become futile when the people from the same villages are engaged in land leasing and labour. However, efforts from private level seems to be sustainable but they require replication. Construction of wells, check dams, anicuts, water tanks and adaptation of horticultural and vegetable cultivations are productive practices from the farmers.

a sheer murder of the river

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