Evaluation of the Environmental and Socio-economic impacts of Sand Mining Projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat

Evaluation of the Environmental and Socio-economic impacts of Sand Mining Projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat

Submittedinpartialfulfilmentoftherequirements

ofthedegreeof

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

by

VANSADIA ARYARAJSINH LOKENDRSASINH

(PRN No. 8021015029)

Under the supervision of

DR. AKANKSHA BHARDWAJ

Department of Environmental Studies

Faculty of Science

THE MAHARAJA SAYAJIRAO UNIVERSITY OF BARODA

(2024)

20-04-2022

CERTIFICATEThis is to certify that the dissertation thesis entitled Evaluation of the Environmental and Socio-economic impacts of Sand Mining Projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat submitted by VANSADIA ARYARAJSINH LOKENDRASINH, Exam Seat No. 645741, PRN: 8021015029 as part fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Environmental Sciences, embodies the work carried out in the Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat. The content presented in this dissertation thesis incorporates the original findings of independent research work carried out by the candidate her/himself. The content of this thesis has not been submitted elsewhere for the award of any degree.

VANSADIA ARYARAJSINH LOKENDRASINH

(Candidate)

DR. AKANKSHA BHARDWAJ

(Supervisor)

Prof. P. PadmajaOffg. Head, Department of Environmental Studies

DeclarationI declare that this written submission represents my ideas in my own words and where others ideas or words have been included, I have adequately cited and referenced the original sources. I also declare that I have adhered to all principles of academic honesty and integrity and have not misrepresented or fabricated or falsified any idea/data/fact/source in my submission. I understand that any violation of the above will be cause for disciplinary action by the Institute and can also evoke penal action from the sources which have thus not been properly cited or from whom proper permission has not been taken when needed.

Place: Vadodara Name: Aryarajsinh VansadiaDate: 04-05-2024

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTI would like to thank Head of the Department of Environmental Studies Prof. P. Padmaja for providing the necessary facilities within the laboratory that were crucial to my research.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my research guide, DR. AKANKSHA BHARDWAJ for her invaluable guidance, support, and mentorship throughout this research endeavor. Her expertise, encouragement, and insightful feedback have been instrumental in shaping this thesis and expanding my understanding of the subject matter.

I am also profoundly grateful to my parents for their unwavering love, encouragement, and sacrifices they made to support my education. Their continuous support and belief in my abilities have been a constant source of motivation.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to my friends and colleagues for their encouragement, assistance, and discussions that enriched my research journey. Their input and camaraderie made the process more enjoyable and rewarding.

I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of other faculty members who provided valuable insights, feedback, and academic resources during the course of my studies.

Lastly, I acknowledge the support and resources provided by Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, THE MAHARAJA SAYAJIRAO UNIVERSITY OF BARODA

that facilitated this research work.

Without the collective support and guidance of these individuals and institutions, this thesis would not have been possible. Thank you for being part of this academic journey.

Aryarajsinh Vansadia

Table of Contents TOC o "1-3" h z u CERTIFICATE PAGEREF _Toc165732039 h IIDeclaration PAGEREF _Toc165732040 h IVACKNOWLEDGEMENT PAGEREF _Toc165732041 h VTable of Contents PAGEREF _Toc165732042 h VIList of Figures PAGEREF _Toc165732043 h VIIIList of Tables PAGEREF _Toc165732044 h IXAbstract PAGEREF _Toc165732045 h X1. INTRODUCTION PAGEREF _Toc165732046 h 11.0.River Sand Mining PAGEREF _Toc165732047 h 11.1Sand mining in India PAGEREF _Toc165732048 h 21.1.1Sand Mining in Chhota Udepur: PAGEREF _Toc165732049 h 21.2Socio-economic impacts of sand mining on local communities PAGEREF _Toc165732050 h 31.3Environmental impacts of sand mining: PAGEREF _Toc165732051 h 41.3.1Erosion and Flooding: PAGEREF _Toc165732052 h 41.3.2Loss of Agricultural Land PAGEREF _Toc165732053 h 41.3.3Aquatic Ecosystem Disruption PAGEREF _Toc165732054 h 41.3.4Depletion of Groundwater: PAGEREF _Toc165732055 h 41.3.5Air pollution: PAGEREF _Toc165732056 h 42. REVIEW OF LITERATURE PAGEREF _Toc165732057 h 52.1. Sand mining PAGEREF _Toc165732058 h 52.2. Effects of sand mining on environment PAGEREF _Toc165732059 h 52.3. Impacts of sand mining activity: PAGEREF _Toc165732060 h 6Lacunae PAGEREF _Toc165732061 h 8Aim PAGEREF _Toc165732062 h 9Objectives PAGEREF _Toc165732063 h 93. METHODOLOGY PAGEREF _Toc165732064 h 103.1 STUDY AREA PAGEREF _Toc165732065 h 103.2. Surface water quality assessment PAGEREF _Toc165732066 h 113.2.1 Water Sampling Locations: PAGEREF _Toc165732067 h 113.2.2 Water Quality assessment PAGEREF _Toc165732068 h 123.3 Assessment of Socioeconomic Impacts PAGEREF _Toc165732069 h 143.3.1 Methods used for Data Collection of Socio Economic Survey PAGEREF _Toc165732070 h 154. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION PAGEREF _Toc165732071 h 164.1 Water quality analysis PAGEREF _Toc165732072 h 164.1.3 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) PAGEREF _Toc165732073 h 184.1.4 Total Suspended Solids (TSS) PAGEREF _Toc165732074 h 184.1.5 Dissolved Oxygen (DO) PAGEREF _Toc165732075 h 194.1.6 Nitrate (NO3-) PAGEREF _Toc165732076 h 204.2 Results of social economical survey: PAGEREF _Toc165732077 h 214.2.1 Basic demographic data of the Respondents: PAGEREF _Toc165732078 h 214.2.2 Educational background of the Respondents PAGEREF _Toc165732079 h 234.2.3 Household Composition And Employment status PAGEREF _Toc165732080 h 244.2.4 Income distribution according to cast structure PAGEREF _Toc165732081 h 284.2.5 Communities awareness regarding mining rules & policies PAGEREF _Toc165732082 h 294.2.6 Impact of mining on local communities PAGEREF _Toc165732083 h 304.2.7 Community Awareness of sand mining regulations and Health: PAGEREF _Toc165732084 h 415. CONCLUSION PAGEREF _Toc165732085 h 46REFERENCES PAGEREF _Toc165732086 h 48Annexure PAGEREF _Toc165732087 h 50

List of Figures TOC h z c "Figure" Figure 1 Map Showing Study Area PAGEREF _Toc165726517 h 10Figure 2 Sampling sites (A,B,C) PAGEREF _Toc165726518 h 11Figure 3 Observed values of pH PAGEREF _Toc165726519 h 17Figure 4 Observed values of Turbidity PAGEREF _Toc165726520 h 17Figure 5 Observed values of Total Dissolved Solids PAGEREF _Toc165726521 h 18Figure 6 Observed values of Total suspended Solids PAGEREF _Toc165726522 h 19Figure 7 Observed values of Dissolved oxygen PAGEREF _Toc165726523 h 20Figure 8 Observed values of Nitrate PAGEREF _Toc165726524 h 20Figure 9 Gender of the Respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726525 h 21Figure 10 Age distribution of the Respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726526 h 22Figure 11 Marital status of the respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726527 h 23Figure 12 Educational Background of the respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726528 h 24Figure 13 Respondent's Household Composition PAGEREF _Toc165726529 h 25Figure 14 Employed Members in a Household PAGEREF _Toc165726530 h 26Figure 15 Employment type of Respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726531 h 27Figure 16 Income distribution according to cast structure PAGEREF _Toc165726532 h 28Figure 17 Communities awareness regarding mining rules & policies PAGEREF _Toc165726533 h 29Figure 18 Impact of mining on their agricultural practices PAGEREF _Toc165726534 h 30Figure 19 Impact of mining on Agrucultural production PAGEREF _Toc165726535 h 31Figure 20 Respondent benefiting from the uses of sand PAGEREF _Toc165726536 h 32Figure 21 Types of benefit from sand use PAGEREF _Toc165726537 h 33Figure 22 Negative impacts due to sand Mining PAGEREF _Toc165726538 h 35Figure 23 Employment jobs provided by Sand mining Industries: PAGEREF _Toc165726539 h 37Figure 24 Type of Employment Provided by Sand mining Industries PAGEREF _Toc165726540 h 38Figure 25 Communities Recieve Royalties from Sand mining Industires PAGEREF _Toc165726541 h 40Figure 26 Health Concerns Resulting from mining PAGEREF _Toc165726542 h 41Figure 27 Awareness of Safety Measures: PAGEREF _Toc165726543 h 42Figure 28 Awareness of Mining rules and policies PAGEREF _Toc165726544 h 44

List of Tables TOC h z c "Table" Table 1 Description about sampling sites PAGEREF _Toc165726545 h 11Table 2 Results of Physical parameters of the surface water PAGEREF _Toc165726546 h 16Table 3 Gender of the Respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726547 h 21Table 4 Age Distribution of the Respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726548 h 22Table 5 Marital status of the respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726549 h 23Table 6 Educational Background of the respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726550 h 24Table 7 Household Composition of the respondants PAGEREF _Toc165726551 h 24Table 8 Employed Members in a Household PAGEREF _Toc165726552 h 25Table 9 Employment type of Respondents PAGEREF _Toc165726553 h 27Table 10 Income distribution according to cast structure PAGEREF _Toc165726554 h 28Table 11 Communities awareness regarding mining rules & policies PAGEREF _Toc165726555 h 29Table 12 Impact of mining on their agricultural practices PAGEREF _Toc165726556 h 30Table 13 Impact of mining on Agrucultural production PAGEREF _Toc165726557 h 31Table 14 Respondent benefiting from the uses of sand PAGEREF _Toc165726558 h 32Table 15 Respondent benefiting from the uses of sand PAGEREF _Toc165726559 h 33Table 16 Negative impacts due to sand Mining PAGEREF _Toc165726560 h 35Table 17 Employment jobs provided by Sand mining Industries: PAGEREF _Toc165726561 h 36Table 18 Type of Employment Provided by Sand mining Industries PAGEREF _Toc165726562 h 38Table 19 Communities Recieve Royalties from Sand mining Industires PAGEREF _Toc165726563 h 39Table 20 Health Concerns Resulting from mining PAGEREF _Toc165726564 h 41Table 21 Awareness of Safety Measures: PAGEREF _Toc165726565 h 42Table 22 Awareness of Mining rules and policies PAGEREF _Toc165726566 h 43

AbstractSand mining, a crucial global economic activity particularly for developing nations, has essential role in socio-economic development. India is grappling with serious environmental and social economic challenges due to its rapidly growing sand production industry. This complex scenario can be seen in Chottaudepur, Gujarat where the effects of sand mining on both local livelihoods and environment are felt and hence were analysed for socio-economic effects on local communities and on water environment. Water quality assessment in Chottaudepur involved assessment of physico-chemical parameters like pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Total Solids (TS). Socioeconomic impacts were evaluated using a stratified random sampling approach in mining regions. Data collection included Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), direct field observations, structured questionnaire surveys and interviews targeting affected communities. The results of the study revealed high pH levels, increased turbidity, reduced dissolved oxygen levels as well as high TSS and TDS contents in surface waters contaminated by sand mining activities. The socioeconomic aspects consisted of positive impacts such as higher local employment rates coupled with negative consequences like community dislocation or displacement, wealth divide/rich-poor gap among other forms of environmental pollution. There were concerns expressed by the respondents over health risk factors linked to mining activities; ignorance about the existing laws governing mining and unfair methods of distribution of royalties among others.

Keywords: Sand mining, water quality, socio-economic, Chottaudepur.

1. INTRODUCTIONRiver Sand Mining

Mining holds the distinction of one of the most important economic activities, especially in developing countries. Mining activity offers a remarkable potential in terms of socio-economic development. Sand mining is extraction of sand accompanied by gravel from rivers and coasts. Sand, one of the valuable natural resources is widely used as a construction material across the world and is considered the second most used commodity after water. In order to produce mortar, concrete, and other building products, mined sand is a basic raw resource for the construction industry. Therefore, the construction industry, rapid urbanization, and infrastructure development have all contributed to a significant increase in the demand for sand extraction. Globally, the current consumption of sand stands at 50 million tons and the demand is expected to grow to 82 billion tons by 2060 (Fritts, 2019). It is extracted from aquatic environments like rivers and coasts, the replenishment of which takes thousands of years. As the extraction of sand continues to rise, there is an increasing acknowledgment of the potential adverse impacts it can have on both the environment and the socio-economic structure of the affected regions (ADDIN CSL_CITATION {"citationItems":[{"id":"ITEM-1","itemData":{"DOI":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106492","ISSN":"0964-5691","abstract":"Beaches and coastal dunes have always supplied sand for a wide range of uses, and initially the extracted volumes were limited to buckets, wheelbarrows, or small pickup truck loads. However, starting in the late twentieth century, and thanks to urban development, especially for coastal tourism, coastal and river sand has been extracted at an accelerated pace, and on a much grander scale. The two greatest drivers of sand mining are the resource's use as aggregate in concrete, and as nourishment sand for beach reconstruction to protect coastal property (the consumer of much of the concrete). The immediate result has created a litany of environmental, social, and economic damages. Globally, most sand mining is done in opposition to local opinion and laws, creating an atmosphere of corruption in many coastal societies. Such mining also has become the basis of the formation of violence-prone sand mafias, who engage in and defend the "illegality" of this activity. There exists a dire need for global policies that will have a real effect on reducing sand mining and its impact on coastal beaches and dunes, as well as for new solutions to reduce the collateral consequences. Any management strategy to tackle coastal sand mining must begin with understanding underlying processes, in this case, the sand life cycle and the Coastal Sand-Supply Network. This opinion paper highlights the complexity and the adverse effects of coastal sand mining, as well as the severity and urgency of the problem. Based on this information, guidelines are proposed that could be used for global agenda-making regarding sand-extraction regulation. Future solutions should prioritize using alternative aggregates as well as changes in construction techniques, and a return to the concept of Sand Rights that, like water rights, downstream reliance on sand resources must be respected. This approach will require integrated regional management between offshore regulators, coastal communities, and the associated river basins that are the upstream sources for sand.","author":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Rangel-Buitrago","given":"Nelson","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Neal","given":"William","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Pilkey","given":"Orrin","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Longo","given":"Norma","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"container-title":"Ocean & Coastal Management","id":"ITEM-1","issued":{"date-parts":[["2023"]]},"page":"106492","title":"The global impact of sand mining on beaches and dunes","type":"article-journal","volume":"235"},"uris":["http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=97baf8f6-6dda-4abd-8d6e-ab67b6d58cee"]}],"mendeley":{"formattedCitation":"(Rangel-Buitrago et al., 2023)","plainTextFormattedCitation":"(Rangel-Buitrago et al., 2023)","previouslyFormattedCitation":"(Rangel-Buitrago et al., 2023)"},"properties":{"noteIndex":0},"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"}Rangel-Buitrago et al., 2023). The severity of these impacts varies depending on factors such as the extraction rate, the type of extraction methods used, and how the extraction is carried out. When the rate of sand extraction exceeds the natural replenishment rate, it can lead to a range of problems for the environment ADDIN CSL_CITATION {"citationItems":[{"id":"ITEM-1","itemData":{"DOI":"10.1038/s41893-019-0455-3","ISSN":"2398-9629","abstract":"Recent growth of the construction industry has fuelled the demand for sand, with considerable volumes being extracted from the worlds large rivers. Sediment transport from upstream naturally replenishes sediment stored in river beds, but the absence of sand flux data from large rivers inhibits assessment of the sustainability of ongoing sand mining. Here, we demonstrate that bedload (0.180.07Mtyr1) is a small (1%) fraction of the total annual sediment load of the lower Mekong River. Even when considering suspended sand (62Mtyr1), the total sand flux entering the Mekong delta (6.182.01Mtyr1) is far less than current sand extraction rates (50Mtyr1). We show that at these current rates, river bed levels can be lowered sufficiently to induce river bank instability, potentially damaging housing and infrastructure and threatening lives. Our research suggests that on the Mekong and other large rivers subject to excessive sand mining, it is imperative to establish regulatory frameworks that limit extraction rates to levels that permit the establishment of a sustainable balance between the natural supply/storage of sand and the rate at which sand is removed.","author":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Hackney","given":"Christopher R","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Darby","given":"Stephen E","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Parsons","given":"Daniel R","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Leyland","given":"Julian","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Best","given":"James L","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Aalto","given":"Rolf","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Nicholas","given":"Andrew P","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Houseago","given":"Robert C","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"container-title":"Nature Sustainability","id":"ITEM-1","issue":"3","issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]},"page":"217-225","title":"River bank instability from unsustainable sand mining in the lower Mekong River","type":"article-journal","volume":"3"},"uris":["http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=3642a4bd-9854-4340-84b8-ddda91bb3a4e"]}],"mendeley":{"formattedCitation":"(Hackney et al., 2020)","plainTextFormattedCitation":"(Hackney et al., 2020)","previouslyFormattedCitation":"(Hackney et al., 2020)"},"properties":{"noteIndex":0},"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"}(Hackney et al., 2020).

A growing number of people are becoming aware of the possible negative effects of the increased sand extraction on the environment and the socioeconomic structure of the areas that are impacted (Buitrago & Rangel, 2023). Given the ongoing growth of the mining sector in Chottaudepur, policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public will find great value in the information obtained from this study. It's crucial to remember that the financial advantages of sand mining must be evaluated against the socioeconomic and environmental costs involved. These expenses consist of habitat loss, riverbank erosion, water pollution, disturbance of aquatic ecosystems, and negative effects on nearby communities, such as agricultural land loss and community relocation near mining sites (Grabbi et al. 2020).

Sand mining in IndiaIndia has a sizable sand mining industry, especially in light of the nation's quick urbanization and infrastructure growth. But it's also linked to a number of socioeconomic and environmental effects.

According to estimations, one of the biggest extractive industries in India is sand mining, which is a significant industry. Due to an increase in economic activity, India's pace of sand and gravel mining has tripled over the last 20 years, reaching 40 billion tons yearly.ADDIN CSL_CITATION {"citationItems":[{"id":"ITEM-1","itemData":{"DOI":"10.12944/cwe.17.3.4","ISSN":"09734929","abstract":"The importance of mining to long-term economic development in developing nations has been a hot topic in recent years. Mining offers enormous potential for local and national output, employment, revenue distribution, and economic growth. Among all minerals, Sand became the most widely used building resource on the earth that is creating the physical foundation of the built environment but the mining industry was unconcerned with the environmental consequences of resource exploitation. A Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat (SWOT) analysis is done in this review article to give proper highlights on the issues and impacts of sand mining that need to be readdressed by mining authorities and by sand mining owners. Sand mining has some economic and social benefits, including the creation of jobs and revenue, as well as the enhancement of the local economy. But after water, Sand is now the second most exploited and exported resource by volume. Its exploitation is wreaking havoc on the environment and provoking political-economic tensions. This article concludes with some suggestions for potential direction of change/ improvement in sand mining in India.","author":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Jain","given":"Anima","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Dohare","given":"Devendra","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"container-title":"Current World Environment","id":"ITEM-1","issue":"3","issued":{"date-parts":[["2022"]]},"page":"542-556","title":"Sand Mining in India and its Evaluation using Swot Analysis- A Review","type":"article-journal","volume":"17"},"uris":["http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=44c33759-e08c-4199-a174-9ea7bd35e71e"]}],"mendeley":{"formattedCitation":"(Jain & Dohare, 2022)","plainTextFormattedCitation":"(Jain & Dohare, 2022)","previouslyFormattedCitation":"(Jain & Dohare, 2022)"},"properties":{"noteIndex":0},"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"}(Jain & Dohare, 2022)

The Indian economy benefits greatly from sand mining, mainly because of its use in building projects. In order to produce mortar, concrete, and other building products, mined sand is a basic raw resource for the construction industry. As a result, the sand mining industry supports the livelihoods of numerous people engaged in the extraction, transportation, and sale of sand by creating job opportunities, both directly and indirectly.

It's crucial to remember that the financial advantages of sand mining must be evaluated against the socioeconomic and environmental costs involved. These expenses consist of habitat loss, riverbank erosion, water pollution, disturbance of aquatic ecosystems, and negative effects on nearby communities, such as agricultural land loss and community relocation near mining sites (Grabbi et al. 2020).

The economic benefits may be especially evident in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, where sand mining operations are common, in terms of local employment and income creation. However, these advantages' long-term effects on society and the environment need for careful management in order to ensure their sustainability. In order to prevent social injustice and environmental degradation from occurring at the expense of the economic benefits of sand mining, it is imperative that sustainable sand mining techniques, regulatory enforcement, and community engagement be implemented.

Sand Mining in Chhota Udepur:As Chhota Udepur was formed by combining areas of Vadodara and the Panchmahals districts (Kawant, Naswadi, Sankheda, Jetpurpavi, and Chhota Udepur), it is considered a mostly tribal area. A lush forest covering 75,704 hectares, Chhota Udepur is one of the state's most mineral-rich districts. Furthermore, a number of mineral and sand mining facilities are currently part of the freshly carved district's treasure. 5.39 lakh tones of dolomite, 52,000 tons of fluorite, 90.77 lakh tones of sand, and 4,000 tons of granite make up the majority of this. Actually, with its abundant mining resources. (Commissioner of geology and mining). (n.d.-a).

Socio-economic impacts of sand mining on local communitiesFrom a socioeconomic standpoint, sand mining operations have good effects on the community. Sand mining contribute to overall economic growth by increasing livelihood diversification and raising community knowledge beyond agriculture. Increased revenue levels from this diversification allow families to meet their basic necessities, fund their children's education until graduation, and raise their standard of life to a more respectable level (Prabhakar, R., Kumari, A., Neetu, & Sinha, R. K. 2019).

Displacement of Communities: Communities living in or near the mining sites may be forced to relocate as a result of sand mining operations. Resettling impacted communities can be difficult and frequently causes social instability as a result of this relocation. (G. M. Kondolf 2017).

Impact on Livelihoods: Sand mining may have a negative impact on traditional livelihoods that depend on natural resources, such as agriculture and fishing. Fishing operations may be hampered by changes in water flow and quality, while agricultural regions may experience decreased water availability and soil erosion ( Singh, R. N. and Singh, S. K. et al. 2019)

Positive environmental consequences are also produced by sand mining, especially when it comes to river volume and capacity. Rivers become deeper as a result of sand mining, which is vital in avoiding floods during the rainy season. The community's complex dynamics around sand mining are highlighted by this combined advantage of improved socioeconomic status and favorable environmental effects, (Saputra et al. 2023)

Economic Unbalance: Sand mining may lead to economic inequality in local areas, with certain people or groups profiting from the sector while others suffer drawbacks. This disparity has the potential to exacerbate already-existing social injustices and fuel disputes over the distribution and use of resources.

This summary emphasizes the complexity of the effects related to the sand mining operations in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, and stresses the need for thorough evaluation and mitigating measures in order to deal with these issues.

Environmental impacts of sand mining:In Chottaudepur, Gujarat, sand mining may have substantial and varied effects on the ecosystem. This is a synopsis: Destroying Habitats: Sand mining frequently entails clearing vast amounts of sand from beaches and riverbeds. Important habitats for aquatic species including fish, amphibians, and invertebrates may be destroyed as a result of this. It changes how rivers naturally flow and has an impact on the stability of riverbanks, which causes erosion and a decline in biodiversity.

Erosion and Flooding:

The natural barriers against erosion and flooding may be weakened when sand is removed from riverbeds. It raises the possibility of property damage and fatalities by decreasing the capacity of riverbanks and coastal regions to absorb and lessen the effects of floods and storm surges. ADDIN CSL_CITATION {"citationItems":[{"id":"ITEM-1","itemData":{"DOI":"10.1007/978-3-319-13425-3_14","ISBN":"978-3-319-13425-3","abstract":"The Kaveri River, the fourth largest river in India, undergoes the onslaught of urbanization and extensive construction activities within, along and adjoining its channel. In addition to its dwindling natural flow due to the failing monsoonal supply, and constructions of major, medium and minor dams, the extensive mining of sand from its channel bed causes severe stress on its natural fluvial processes. Reduction of carrying capacity of thechannel, extensive vertical accretion of sediments within thechannel, development of channel-in-channel physiography, and alteration of stream configuration and textural parameters of the stream bed sediments have contributed towards deterioration of the environmental integrity of this important river and exacerbated the flood hazard in the adjoining regions. This paper is an attempt to document the deterioration of natural fluvial dynamics due to the anthropogenic intervention and lack of required data for proper understanding for environmental management and sustenance of the fluvial system. The textural and geomorphic characteristics and the mechanism of mid-channel bar formation and stabilization documented through this study suggest that the whole of the river channel of the Kaveri River behaves like a braided bar/flood plain, which meansthe prevalence of slow abandonment of the fluvial processes, that could only be observed in the flood plain region of mature and or old stage of a river and/or in the event of shifting of channel course. Occurrence of such characteristics at the upper deltaic region and the observation that the channel area gets converted into mid-channel bars (in terms of textural-geomorphic traits), at a rate of 1.08km2/year warrant immediate measures for the restoration of natural fluvial processes.","author":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Ramkumar","given":"Mu.","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Kumaraswamy","given":"K","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"James","given":"R Arthur","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Suresh","given":"M","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Sugantha","given":"T","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Jayaraj","given":"L","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Mathiyalagan","given":"A","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Saraswathi","given":"M","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Shyamala","given":"J","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"container-title":"Environmental Management of River Basin Ecosystems","editor":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Ramkumar","given":"Mu.","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Kumaraswamy","given":"K","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Mohanraj","given":"R","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"id":"ITEM-1","issued":{"date-parts":[["2015"]]},"page":"283-318","publisher":"Springer International Publishing","publisher-place":"Cham","title":"Sand Mining, Channel Bar Dynamics and Sediment Textural Properties of the Kaveri River, South India: Implications on Flooding Hazard and Sustainability of the Natural Fluvial System","type":"chapter"},"uris":["http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=bb8baebe-ab94-47ff-9a58-82d37cef5585"]}],"mendeley":{"formattedCitation":"(Ramkumar et al., 2015)","plainTextFormattedCitation":"(Ramkumar et al., 2015)","previouslyFormattedCitation":"(Ramkumar et al., 2015)"},"properties":{"noteIndex":0},"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"}(Ramkumar et al., 2015)

Loss of Agricultural Land:

Sand mining activities often invade agricultural land, resulting in the depletion of fertile soil and a reduction in the amount of land that can be used for farming. Long-term socioeconomic repercussions may result for nearby communities whose primary source of income is agriculture. ADDIN CSL_CITATION {"citationItems":[{"id":"ITEM-1","itemData":{"author":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Article","given":"Review","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Saviour","given":"M Naveen","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Nadu","given":"Tamil","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"id":"ITEM-1","issue":"3","issued":{"date-parts":[["2012"]]},"page":"125-134","title":"ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SOIL AND SAND MINING : A REVIEW","type":"article-journal","volume":"1"},"uris":["http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=7e555d36-c1d9-4edb-96a6-3c7e3b8e021e"]}],"mendeley":{"formattedCitation":"(Article et al., 2012)","plainTextFormattedCitation":"(Article et al., 2012)","previouslyFormattedCitation":"(Article et al., 2012)"},"properties":{"noteIndex":0},"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"}(Article et al., 2012)

Aquatic Ecosystem Disruption:

Sand mining modifies the patterns of sediment transport, uproots aquatic species' breeding and feeding grounds, and reduces the variety and quantity of flora and fauna, all of which have an adverse effect on the natural equilibrium of aquatic ecosystems.

Depletion of Groundwater: Sand mining has the potential to reduce local water tables, which can cause groundwater levels to drop and wells and springs to dry up. For nearby areas that depend on groundwater for industrial, agricultural, and drinking water, this might have major ramifications. ADDIN CSL_CITATION {"citationItems":[{"id":"ITEM-1","itemData":{"DOI":"https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.43619","abstract":"Rapid urbanization, the major cause for sand demand is responsible for unsustainable extraction of sand from driednriver paths. The layers of sand deposits are exploited almost up to the bottom. This in turn, has increased initial andnpremature failure of irrigation wells in riparian areas. This study is a modest attempt to estimate the negativenexternalities due to sand mining along Uttara Pinakini river in Gauribidanur, Karnataka, India using field data fromnSand mining area (SMA) and Non-sand mining area (NSMA). In SMA (NSMA) proportion of well failure is 0.46n(0.3), groundwater extracted per well 20.67 (32.12) acre inches, negative externality per well Rs. 4189 (Rs. 1328),nnet return per rupee of groundwater Rs.4.32 (Rs.11.88). In SMA (NSMA), as location of well from sand mining areanincreased from 30 to 1500 feet negative externality per well reduced from Rs.7080 to Rs.1585 (Rs.1394 to 1462). InnBangalore city, price of sand was Rs. 4200 per truckload of 350 cubic feet; with inelastic demand ( = - 0.88) andntransporters earn net return of Rs. 835 per load. It is suggested to impose a Pigouvian tax of Rs. 540 on each sandntruck load in order to compensate the farmers for loss incurred due to sand mining at the rate of Rs. 4813 pernirrigation well.","author":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Hemalatha","given":"A C","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Chandrakanth","given":"Mysore G","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""},{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Nagaraj","given":"N","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"collection-title":"PRESENTATION AT THE V INTERNATIONAL R & D CONFERENCE OF THE CENTRAL BOARD OF IRRIGATION AND POWER, 15-18 FEB 2005, BANGALORE","id":"ITEM-1","issue":"1524-2016-131818","issued":{"date-parts":[["2005","2"]]},"note":"Groundwater is a crucial source of irrigation for the farmers in Gauribidanur taluk to eke out the living since there isnno other perennial source of irrigation. Currently the irrigation wells in the riparian areas of uttara Pinakini River arenseriously threatened due to excessive sand extraction, which in turn affects the groundwater recharge. This hasnmanifested in increase in proportion of well failure. It is imperative that sand mining is seriously (negativenexternality) affecting the interests of the economy of riparian farmers in this river basin. This calls for a serious,neffective and efficient implementation of regulation of sand mining for the benefit of both agriculture and civilnworks.nCurrently sand extraction is permitted up to three feet by remitting a royalty of Rs.45 per truckload of sand to thenDepartment of Mines and Geology. On the other hand, however, sand miners are excavating even up to 40 feet innUttara pinakini stream. Thus, department of mines and geology has to seriously monitor the sand mining activity fornthe overall benefit of society.nThe estimated negative externality per irrigation well in the Gauribidanur SMA was Rs. 4186 per year. There arenabout 8000 irrigation wells located in the riparian areas of the Gauribidanur river stream, where sand mining isnactively being undertaken. Thus, the total estimated negative externality is Rs.3,34,88,000. The total estimated sandnaccumulated in uttara pinakini river stream is 1,74,00,000 cubic meter in fifteen years, of which 61 percent wasnextracted, constituting 1,06,14,000 cubic meter or 37,14,90,000 cft in fifteen years(6). Therefore annual sandnextracted is 2,47,66,000 cft imposing externality of Rs 1.35 per cft or Rs .540 per load. In order to conserve the sandnresources, along the riparian areas, this environmental cost Rs 540 per load should be imposed to internalise thenpressure on this natural resource in the market price of sand. Imposition of the pigouvian tax of Rs. 540 per trucknload of sand transported will create a corpus fund with the Governments Department of Mines and Geology withnwhich (i) the farmers possessing irrigation wells which have failed due to sand mining would be compensated on thenbasis of loss in net returns which would result from mining a truck load of sand.","page":"15","publisher-place":"2005-02-18","title":"EFFECT OF SAND MINING ON GROUNDWATER DEPLETION IN KARNATAKA","type":"article-journal"},"uris":["http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=f701173e-c608-40d7-887e-2a63f72f73ef"]}],"mendeley":{"formattedCitation":"(Hemalatha et al., 2005)","plainTextFormattedCitation":"(Hemalatha et al., 2005)","previouslyFormattedCitation":"(Hemalatha et al., 2005)"},"properties":{"noteIndex":0},"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"}(Hemalatha et al., 2005)

Air pollution: Heavy machinery and trucks are frequently used in sand mining activities, which releases noise, diesel emissions, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. This may worsen the quality of the air in the surrounding areas and endanger the health of those who live there.

2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE2.1. Sand miningSand is in continuous demand because of its use in infrastructure development. It is far simpler to extract it from river systems (river beds, fluvial terraces, etc.) compared to quarries. Furthermore, because of the abrasion processes that differentiate between strong and weak materials, it is commonly believed that material from alluvial deposits is of higher quality than that from other sources (Kondolf, 1994a). These beneficial characteristics have led to the global proliferation of instream sand mining. When it comes to tiny rivers with drainage basins less than 10,000 km2, the situation is rather concerning. Thousands of little rivers contribute a significant amount of sediments to the world's seas, although draining just 20% of the planet's surface (Milliman and Meade 1983). River bed resources like sand and gravel are extensively extracted from the rivers as a result of the fast industrialization, urbanization, and related changes. In the last several decades, the demand for gravel and sand has increased exponentially to fulfil the growing needs of the building industry. Unrelenting sand mining from river beds is caused by a number of variables, including the quickening rate of economic development, the increase of remittances from abroad, and the liberalization of housing programs for building construction, mostly from the banking industry (Padmalal and others 2008). The world's rivers are under tremendous strain from a variety of human activities, the most destructive of which is the indiscriminate mining of sand and gravel, which endangers the very life of river ecosystems. (Rovira, 2005)

2.2. Effects of sand mining on environment

The effect of sand mining on rivers has been the subject of several research (Kondolf, 1994a and 1994b, Bravard et al., 1999 and Rinaldi et al., 2005). Because of this, a wealth of information exists about the anticipated effects of sand extraction on rivers, the most significant of which is river bed degradation. Other morphological sand mining consequences include changes in channel pattern, avulsion processes, bed coarsening, and river bank instability. These can result in significant damage to buildings and significant disruptions to river equilibrium. The earliest reports of the negative environmental effects of sand resource extraction were from the industrialized world (Sonak et al., 2006). The aforementioned globalization of sand mining has led to an increase in reports from various nations, including China (Wu et al. 2007) and India (Padmalal et al. 2008), expressing worry about the environmental effects. As a result, it has been suggested that sand mining ought to be regarded as a component of global environmental change due to the scope of this globalization and the severity of its effects (Sonak et al. 2006).

Few research, meanwhile, have looked at the effects of sand mining over longer time periods beyond the length of mining operations at specific sites. These research indicates that the extent of extraction and its consequences are particular to certain locations and initiatives (Wang et al. 2003).

The truth is that the consequences of river sand mining on the ecosystem have been recognized and examined in recent decades (Sreebha and Padmalal, 2008). In this context, certain pertinent research has been done (Ashraf et al., 2011Padmalal et al., 2008;) While the information on sand mining in industrialized nations is trustworthy, there is a dearth of global data regarding material extraction, which has led to environmental issues and contributed to a lack of awareness.

For this reason, both small- and large-scale environmental degradation is caused by the extraction from these mines. A non-renewable resource in the life cycle of humans is river sand. The consequences on the environment are negligible if its extraction is equivalent to its regeneration. However, over-extraction interferes with the normal functioning of ecosystems (Padmalal, 2008). Excessive extraction has resulted in the devastation of public properties, the contamination of water sources, the decline in the standard of living of the local population, and the loss of soil quality (Ashraf et al., 2011).

and it also has the unintended consequence of changing the landscape and producing noise, dust, air pollution, high traffic around the mine, etc. These effects have resulted in soil erosion, the loss of arable land, the elimination of life diversity, and a rise in poverty among people. They also have negative potential effects on society, the environment, cultural heritage, the health and safety of mine workers, and the neighbourhoods surrounding mines. While most people understand the importance of sand in building, they might not be aware of the negative effects it has on the diversity of life, plant covering, and food security.

2.3. Impacts of sand mining activity:The evaluation of social impacts is a critical facet of impact assessments, encompassing systematic efforts to identify, analyze, and appraise the effects of programs or policies on individuals, groups, or entire communities. This assessment is often conducted concurrently or separately from environmental impact assessments (Ashraf et al., 2010).Studies conducted in Ghana have highlighted how sand and gravel mining can deprive local communities of their primary income sourceagricultural land (Musah et al., 2009). Moreover, these activities can alter local ecosystems, contributing to environmental hazards such as the proliferation of disease vectors like malaria mosquitoes due to water bodies created by mining activities (Hemalatha et al., 2005).

In addition to mentioning the detrimental effects of sand and gravel mining on the environment, (Davi and Rongmeis 2015) study of the effects of sand mining in the Manipur region on the Aymfl River also demonstrates the positive effects on workers' income as one of the key activities in economic development. On the one hand, these mines may offer opportunities for both direct and indirect employmen.

In Bangladesh, research has shown that sand mining, especially along riverbanks, has become a pressing concern for residents due to erosion and associated environmental impacts (Rentier & Cammeraat, 2022). However, there are potential economic benefits as well. Reactivating mining operations can stimulate regional economies by creating employment opportunities, boosting incomes, reducing unemployment rates, and diversifying revenue sources, leading to improved living standards for local populations (Ramkumar et al., 2015).

Mensah et al. 1997 used the three villages in the Ahanta West District to investigate the causes and consequences of coastal sand mining in Ghana. The study's goal was to identify the causes and consequences of mining for coastal sand. The author noted that the sand mining has led to the -land dispute (13.7%), loss of vegetation (12.2%), damage of roads (16.5%), devastation of beaches (18.2%), destruction of property (11.8%), and the use of child labor (8.1%). A comparative study between Iceland and Ghana was conducted by Musah et al (2009) to study the impacts of sand mining and to understand the laws governing the mining of sand and how they were enforced. The authors compared the mining of sand and gravel in Ghana's East Gonja District (EGD) with Iceland's Gunnarsholt region. The research listed the following as the consequences of sand mining in East Gonja District: decrease in farmlands (33.3%), mosquito breeding grounds (23.3%), erosion (16.7%), loss of significant trees (10%), and conflict (6.6%). Additionally, it was noted that in the East Gonja District, 7 percent of the mined sites had been restored, 23% were still in use, and 70% had been abandoned.

(Sreebha and Padmalal, 2011) conducted an assessment of the environmental impacts of sand mining in the Kochi city rivers. The research indicated that the human activity has caused major problems for the southwest coast of India, especially for the rivers that drain the catchments of the Vembanad lake. There are seven rivers that feed into the catchments of the Vembanad Lake, ranging in length and area. Sand and gravel are being taken out of floodplains and active channels at a startlingly high pace, far faster than they are being replenished naturally. Over the past 20 years, significant physical and ecological harm to river ecosystems has resulted from excessive mining, which has caused riverbeds to drop significantly.

LacunaeThere is no data available regarding the environmental variables in the context of sand mining projects in Chottaudepur district, despite continuous sand mining activities in the area over the past 15 years.

AimThe aim of the present research was to comprehensively assess the impacts of river sand mining, with a focus on the socio-economic and environmental aspects, in the context of sand mining practices happening in orange river, Chottaudepur.

ObjectivesEstimation of impact of sand mining on water environment by assessing of various water quality parameters likes pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total suspended Solids (TSS), Total Solids (TS).

Evaluation of the socio-economic significance of sand mining in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, including its contribution to local livelihoods, income generation, and economic development.

Assessment the potential long-term effects of sand mining on local communities, including economic inequality, and social instability.

3. METHODOLOGYA thorough methodology combining both qualitative and quantitative indicators was adopted to assess the socio-economic and environmental effects of sand mining initiatives in Chottaudepur, Gujarat. This is a recommended format for this kind of assessment: Initial Evaluation: Prior to beginning sand mining operations, do a thorough analysis of the data and literature that are currently available on the socioeconomic and environmental circumstances of the research area. Determine important metrics including biodiversity, land use patterns, water quality, socioeconomic demographics, etc.

3.1 STUDY AREAThe study area is the district of Chhotaudepur in the state of Gujarat in western India. It has an area of 3,087 square kilometers and is located on Gujarat's eastern border. The district is located between 22 18' 20'' northern latitude and 74 0' 50'' eastern longitude and is bordered to the northeast by Dahod, to the northwest by Panchmahal, to the east by Madhya Pradesh, to the southeast by Vadodara and Narmada districts, and to the southeast by Maharashtra. An important tributary of the Narmada River, the Orsang River rises in Madhya Pradesh's Jabua district and runs for about 20 kilometers in a southwest direction, passing through the tehsils of Chhotaudepur, Bodeli, and Sankheda before entering the Narmada at Chandod, Gujarat. The length of its waterway is 135 kilometers. (District Chhotaudepur,Government of Gujarat | In the lap of Orsang | India. n.d.)

Figure 1 Map Showing Study Area3.2. Surface water quality assessmentTo establish baseline water quality, sampling and analysis are carried out at places free from the impact of sand mining activities. The baseline data was compared with the affected water to find out impacts caused by sand mining.

3.2.1 Water Sampling Locations:Sampling of water was done from the surface water affected from sand mining projects, which was tested against the water sample taken from river at least 29 Kms from the mining site. And one additional sample was taken from river flowing downstream.

Affected Surface Water (A) Downstream Surface Water (B) Controlled Surface Water (C

Figure 2 Sampling sites (A,B,C)Table 1 Description about sampling sitesS. No. Sample Coordinates Sampling point Village Taluka1. Affected Surface Water (A): 2216'34.7"N, 7346'26.1"E River OrsangVaddhariBodeli2. Downstream surface water (B) 2216'42.8"N

7346'03.1"E

River OrsangJabugamBodeli3. Sample Controlled Surface Water (C) 2225'46"N

7352'45"E

River SukhiDungarvantJetpur Pavi

3.2.2 Water Quality assessmentWater quality was analysed for physico-chemical parameters like pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total suspended Solids (TSS), Total Solids (TS).

3.2.2.1 pHThe pH of surface water samples was determined using pH meter. To ensure accuracy, the pH meter was calibrated using standard solutions with pH values of 4.0, 7.0, and 9.2.

3.2.2.2 Turbidity

The turbidity of surface water samples was assessed using turbidity meter, with measurements recorded in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). The meter was calibrated using standard solutions of 0.02 NTU, 20 NTU, 100 NTU, and 800 NTU to ensure accurate readings.

3.2.2.3 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

The total dissolved solids (TDS) in surface water samples was calculated as the residue remaining after evaporating the filtered sample, following the method outlined in APHA (2012). The formula used for calculating TDS in milligrams per liter (mg/l) is:

TDS, mg/l= (AB) 1000/V

Where:

A is the final weight of the dish in grams after evaporation.

B is the initial weight of the dish in grams before evaporation.

V is the volume of the sample in Ml

3.2.2.4 Total suspended solids (TSS)

mg total suspended solids/L = (A-B) X1000/V

where:

A = weight of filter + dried residue, mg, and

B= weight of filter, mg.

3.2.3.6 Dissolved oxygen (D.O.)

Dissolved oxygen levels in surface water from various locations were determined using Winkler's modified method (APHA 2000), with values calculated according to the following formula:

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) = (8N1000)v/V

Where:

N is the normality of the sodium thiosulfate solution (0.025 in this case).

V is the volume of the sample titrated.

v is the volume of titrant (sodium thiosulfate solution) used in the titration process.

3.2.3.7 Nitrate Nitrogen

Nitrate-nitrogen levels in various surface water samples from different locations were determined using the Spectrophotometric method outlined in APHA (2000). The concentrations were calculated based on a calibration curve specifically prepared for nitrate-nitrogen.

3.3 Assessment of Socioeconomic Impacts

In the present research, socio-economic study was conducted using a stratified random sampling approach in mining regions located in different areas ADDIN CSL_CITATION {"citationItems":[{"id":"ITEM-1","itemData":{"abstract":"A study, sponsored by NITI Aayog, New Delhi, entitled as Socio-economic Impact Study of Mining and Mining Policies on Livelihoods of Local Populations in the Vindhyan Region, Uttar Pradesh was conducted at Centre for Social Forestry and Eco-Rehabilitation, Allahabad. Major objectives were to survey of the major mining areas in the Vindhyan Region of Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of Government Mining Policy on mining in the region and mining activities on the socio-economics of the local people and their dependency on mining for their livelihood sustainability. The effect of mining activities on the vegetation of the region and soil characteristics was also studied. The perceptions of the local people regarding the reclamation of these mining areas after mining closure and their preferential choices for post mining land use were viewed. Based on these final recommendations were prepared for mining policies, rules, regulations, restoration after mining closure, generations of alternative employments. The Socio-economic study was conducted in mining areas of Allahabad, Mirzapur and Sonabhadra districts of Vindhyan region, UP. in the nearby of mining areas in order to study the existing resources of the area, social-economic structure of the community, employment patterns, income generation activities, dependency on forests, mining, impacts of mining, impact of mining closure on livelihood, preference of land use of mined out areas and species preferred for restoration by the local people along with information on other related environmental and socioeconomic aspects etc. The study has been performed in mining areas by using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and by Questionnaire based Surveys. Major findings, its conclusion, recommendations and future prospects have been summarized. Most of the local populace were illiterate and had poor awareness regarding the mining rules and policies, their rights and regulations and forestry programmes for development. Major population was wage-labourers and agriculture as a source of occupation had lost its significance because of land acquisition mainly for mining. Major population was landless or marginal and depends on mining for their livelihoods. The mining is the major source of revenue for Government. Family structure was also affected by mining activities mainly of nuclear type. Majority of the respondents accepted the negative impact of mining on adjoining forest, agriculture and major cause of ","author":[{"dropping-particle":"","family":"Dubey","given":"Kumud","non-dropping-particle":"","parse-names":false,"suffix":""}],"container-title":"Centre for Social Forestry and Eco-Rehabilitation (ICFRE)","id":"ITEM-1","issue":"2","issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]},"page":"1-152","title":"Socio economic impact study of mining and mining polices on the livelihoods of local population in the Vindhyan region of Uttar Pradesh","type":"article-journal","volume":"1"},"uris":["http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=ea42e741-5237-4279-8567-8c6b0211efdf"]}],"mendeley":{"formattedCitation":"(Dubey, 2017)","plainTextFormattedCitation":"(Dubey, 2017)","previouslyFormattedCitation":"(Dubey, 2017)"},"properties":{"noteIndex":0},"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"}(Dubey, 2017). The methodology employed is like the one described, but adapted to the unique characteristics and context of these new locations.

Two talukas namely Bodeli and Jetpur Pavi in Chhotaudepur District were surveyed. The study aimed to gather insights from approximately 100 respondents, with an equal distribution of 10 to 15 respondents from each designated village or area. The primary objective of the survey was to target the communities affected by mining within these regions.

To achieve comprehensive data collection, the socio-economic survey was conducted in the human inhabitations (villages) near the mining sites. This approach allows for a detailed examination of the region's resources, land use patterns, social structures, employment dynamics, income-generating activities, reliance on forests, and preferences for specific species among the local population.

Additionally, the survey encompassed information related to environmental and socio-economic aspects relevant to the mining activities in these areas.

The data collection process involved a mix of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and questionnaire-based pre-structured feedback surveys and interviews, as outlined in Annex 1 of the thesis. PRA was employed in the village areas, while questionnaire-based surveys and interviews were conducted in nearby town areas associated with the mining sites.

The questionnaire was be divided into two parts. The first part focused on the objective questions, gathering personal information about the respondents such as their demographics, educational qualifications, occupations, land holdings, family structures, and economic status.

The second part included subjective questions aimed at understanding perceptions regarding forestry, awareness of the local environment, forest dependency, livelihood sources, opinions on mining activities and environmental impacts, as well as attitudes towards reclamation efforts in mined areas.

Careful consideration was given to ensure a diverse representation of respondents across economic, social, and educational strata, including various age groups and gender representation to avoid biases. Interviews will be conducted both jointly and individually based on the respondents' profile and comfort levels, particularly addressing potential hesitancy among certain groups or individuals.

3.3.1 Methods used for Data Collection of Socio Economic Survey 3.3.1.1 Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA):

- Face-to-face interviews with villagers on household details, income, forest reliance, mining impacts, and species preferences.

3.3.1.2 Direct Observation:

Used during questionnaire-based surveys for accurate data. Data was collected through Google form response sheet and it recorded in excel spreadsheet which was used to create results for the survey report.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe results of the present investigation entitled Evaluation of the Environmental and Socio-economic impacts of Sand Mining Projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat are presented in this chapter. This chapter is majorly divided into two sections- the first section discusses the results of the water quality analysis, and section focusses on the socio-economic survey.

4.1 Water quality analysisWater samples from the three sites were analysed for various physico-chemical parameters and the results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Results of Physical parameters of the surface waterSr.No. Test Parameters Unit Observed Value(A) (Affected Surface Water) Observed Value from(B) (downstream surface water) Observed Value (C)(Controlled Surface Water)

1 pH 8.51 8.3 8.36

2 Turbidity NTU 3764 25 4.8

3 Total Dissolved Solids mg/L 268 286 176

4 Total Suspended Solids mg/L 3038 35 9

5 Dissolved Oxygen ppm 4.2 6.2 4.6

6 Nitrate mg/L 2.3 1.6 1.3

4.1.1 pH

The pH of the affected surface value was found to be 8.51, in case of downstream surface water it was found to be 8.3, and for controlled surface water it was 8.36 (Figure 3). When compared to the controlled surface water (C), the observed pH values in the downstream surface water (B) and impacted surface water (A) are higher. This suggests that sand mining operations may have caused alkalinity in the impacted and downstream areas which has the potential to impose impact on the wellbeing of ecosystems and aquatic life (Jain and Dohare, 2022).

Figure 3 Observed values of pH4.1.2 TURBIDITY

Turbidity values of the affected surface and downstream surface water were 3764 NTU and 25 NTU respectively. In case of controlled surface water, it was found to be 4.8 NTU (Figure 4). Affected surface water (A) has much more turbidity than downstream (B) and controlled surface water (C). This shows that sedimentation and cloudiness in the water are being caused by sand mining, which can have a detrimental effect on aquatic ecosystems by affecting the photosynthetic activity and hence the water quality.

Figure 4 Observed values of Turbidity4.1.3 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)Total Dissolved Solids for the affected surface was found to be 268 gm/L, in case of downstream surface water it was found to be 286 mg/L and for controlled surface water it was 176 mg/L. The TDS values however did not show any significant variation among the sampling sites. Affected surface water (A) has comparatively lower TDS levels than downstream (B) and regulated surface water (C). All values, nevertheless, fall within permissible limits by Bureau of Indian standards (BIS). However, increased TDS can have an impact on aquatic life and water quality.

Figure 5 Observed values of Total Dissolved Solids4.1.4 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)Total suspended solids was found to be 3038 mg/L for the affected area, in case of downstream surface water it was found to be 35 mg/L, and for controlled surface water it was found to be 9 mg/L (Figure 6). Affected surface water (A) has much higher TSS than downstream (B) and controlled surface water (C). High TSS levels imply that sand mining operations have resulted in significant contamination of the water body. Higher TSS levels can damage aquatic life and make the water less clear (more turbid), affecting the overall health of aquatic ecosystem.

Figure 6 Observed values of Total suspended Solids4.1.5 Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

Dissolved oxygen was found to be 4.2 mg/L for the affected area, while in case of downstream surface water it was found to be 6.2 mg/L and in case of controlled surface water it was found to be 4.6 mg/L (Figure 7). When compared to downstream and controlled surface water, the DO levels in impacted surface water were lower. Decreased DO may be a sign of poor water quality and oxygen depletion brought on by contaminants from sand mining and the breakdown of organic materials, which might be harmful to aquatic life. The survival and growth of aquatic species may be adversely affected by decreased DO levels.

Figure 7 Observed values of Dissolved oxygen4.1.6 Nitrate (NO3-)The value of Nitrate for the affected surface was found to be 2.3 mg/L, while in case of downstream surface water it was found to be 1.6 mg/L and in case of controlled surface water it was found to be 1.3 mg/L (Figure 8). Affected surface water (A) has greater nitrate levels than downstream (B) and controlled surface water (C). Increased nitrate concentrations can cause eutrophication, which is bad for aquatic environments. This could be a sign of pollution from other sources, such as agricultural runoff, made worse by sand mining operations.

Figure 8 Observed values of Nitrate4.2 Results of social economical survey:4.2.1 Basic demographic data of the Respondents:Demographic Analysis: Demographic analysis involves an understanding of the gender distribution. Making educated judgments about a range of topics, including social policies, marketing tactics, healthcare, and education, is aided by it. Demographic analysis is dependent upon variety of parameters, and that socioeconomic level, age, and ethnicity all play essential roles.

4.2.1.1 Gender of the respondents:

65.9% of the total respondents from the survey were males and rest 34.1% were females.

Table 3 Gender of the RespondentsGender Count of Gender

Male 62

Female 32

Grand Total 94

140970015303500

Figure 9 Gender of the Respondents029095704.2.1.2 Age Distribution

The age distribution of the respondents is shown in table 4, which divides them into several age groups. Based on the given facts, the following interpretation and debate are presented:

Age Groups: There were 12 responders in the 1830 age range, which is a lower representation than in other age groups. 30-45: Of the responses, 47 people fell within this age bracket, making it the largest group. 4560: 28 responders fall into this age range. 60 & above: The poll included 7 respondents who were 60 years of age or above, indicating a smaller but still significant presence.

Table 4 Age Distribution of the RespondentsRespondent's Age Count of Respondent's Age

18-30 12

30-45 47

45-60 28

60 & above 7

Grand Total 94

Figure 10 Age distribution of the Respondents4.2.1.3 Marital status

From the data received from the respondents, 95 respondents were asked about their marital status.

Based on the available data, it can be inferred that 81.05% of the respondents were married, while the remaining 18.95% were single.

Table 5 Marital status of the respondentsMarital Status of the Respondents Count of Marital Status of the Respondents

MARRIED 77

UNMARRIED 18

Grand Total 95

Figure 11 Marital status of the respondents4.2.2 Educational background of the Respondents4.2.1.4 Educational Background

A sizeable fraction of the group had at least finished secondary school, which, depending on the educational system, usually encompasses education up to the ages of 16 or 18.

Graduate and Above: Thirty-three people had finished their secondary education, which implies that a sizeable percentage of the cohort has gone on for graduate, postgraduation, or bachelor's degrees.

Eleven people were classified as illiterate, which indicated that they are incapable of even reading and writing at a basic level.

Only Primary Education: Eight people had finished their primary education. The early years of learning are normally covered by primary education, lasting until the student is eleven or twelve years old.

Table 6 Educational Background of the respondentsSecondary Count of Secondary

Secondary 40

Graduate and above 33

Illiterate 11

Primary 8

Grand Total 92

Figure 12 Educational Background of the respondents4.2.3 Household Composition And Employment status4.2.3.1 Household Composition of the respondents

The information received from the respondents' homes were divided into three groups: nuclear families, single people, and joint families.

Table 7 Household Composition of the respondantsRespondent's Household Composition Count of Respondent's Household Composition

joint family 40

nuclear family 40

Single 15

Grand Total 95

Figure 13 Respondent's Household CompositionThe summary is as follows:

There are 95 responders in total. 40 respondents were from a joint family. 40 respondents were from a nuclear family and 15 responders were residing alone.

Discussions on the different socioeconomic and cultural variables determining family compositions might be sparked by this distribution. For example, the predominance of nuclear families may represent urbanization and modernization tendencies leading to smaller, more autonomous family units, while the prevalence of joint families may reflect cultural norms favouring extended family support systems. The number of single people may also be a reflection of changes in society, such as postponed marriage or altered lifestyle preferences.

4.3.2.2 Employed Household Members

Table 8 Employed Members in a HouseholdEmployed Household Members Count of Employed Household Member

0 4

1 14

2 25

3 19

4 8

5 7

7 1

Retired 1

Grand Total 79

Figure 14 Employed Members in a HouseholdBased on the data received, the following analysis and discussion were provided: Household Members with Jobs: This section probably indicates how many people work in each home. For instance, there were twenty-five homes with precisely two employed people.

There were fourteen homes with just one working member, 19 families with 3 employed people were reported, eight homes with four employed people, there were five employed people in seven families. Also, there was a single family with 7 working individuals.

Zero Employed Household Members: It was surprising to observe that 4 homes had no working members.

Retired: One home had a person or members who were retired, albeit they are probably not included in the number of employed.

Typically, households had two or three employed in the studied area. This points to a trend where several family members are making contributions to the workforce.

The existence of unemployed of single employed household members may be a sign of impending socioeconomic difficulties or a home structure in which one person is in charge of providing financial assistance for others. The scenario when a single family has one retired person and one employed member raises the possibility that people are depending more on their retirement benefits than on gainful employment.

The existence of a single household consisting of seven working persons is remarkable and might suggest the cohabitation of unrelated individuals, such as roommates, or a sizable extended family. All things considered, this data depicts the employment environment inside families, emphasizing the variety of job situations and household configurations.

4.3.2.3 The respondents employment type:

Table 9 Employment type of RespondentsJobs Count of Jobs

Farming 32

Jobs/labour work 32

Business 21

unemployed 6

Grand Total 91

Figure 15 Employment type of RespondentsBased on the data received, the breakdown of the number of positions in each category and the employment status of each group is as follows:

Agricultural: 32 people work in the agricultural industry. This implies that one important industry in the region or community the data represents may be agriculture.

Labour work:32 people from the respondents are employed as labour workers.

Business: The business sector employed twenty-one people. This might cover a broad range of professions including banking, retail, and services.

Six people do not have a job at the time of survey. This suggests that a segment of the population is actively looking for work but is having trouble finding positions.

4.2.4 Income distribution according to cast structureTable 10 Income distribution according to cast structureCaste Structure of Respondents (blank) 300000 to 500000 100000 to 300000 Less than 100000 500000 and above Grand Total

OBCs 3 25 12 6 4 50

Others 28 1 1 30

SC/ST 14 14

Grand Total 45 26 13 6 4 94

Figure 16 Income distribution according to cast structureThe respondents' income distribution by caste system is shown in the table 10. The interpretation and discussion are as follows:

Count of Respondents' Caste Structure: The number of respondents who belong to various caste systems is listed in this section.

Income Distribution of OBCs': With 25 responders, the bulk of OBCs (Other Backward Classes) make between INR100,000 and INR300,000. Subsequently, 12 respondents identified in the group- INR300,000 to INR500,000, while 6 respondents were identified earning less than INR100,000. Four responders had annual incomes of at least INR500,000.

Income Distribution of Others (GENERAL): The income distribution is noticeably skewed among respondents who are classified as "Others." There is just one respondent in each of the following income ranges: less than INR100,000 and INR100,000 to INR300,000; 28 respondents had an income between 300,000 and 500,000, whereas in the group of 500,000 and above, there were no responders.

Income Distribution of SC/ST: According to the chart, 14 respondents fall within the SC/ST (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) category with no significant income. Nevertheless, the data does not offer a detailed analysis of their income distribution.

4.2.5 Communities awareness regarding mining rules & policiesTable 11 Communities awareness regarding mining rules & policiesNo Count of No

Yes 52

No 25

Maybe 9

Grand Total 86

Figure 17 Communities awareness regarding mining rules & policiesBased on the information received, it appears that 86 people were asked about their knowledge of mining regulations and guidelines. The replies are broken out as follows:

Out of the 52 people responded.

No: twenty-five responders

Potentially: nine responders

This implies that the community have a certain degree of awareness. Nonetheless, the fact that 25 respondents gave the "No" response suggests that a sizeable section of the community is unaware of these guidelines.

This may warrant some caution particularly if these people are engaged in mining operations without being aware of the laws that control them. Nine respondents gave the "Maybe" option, which might imply ambiguity or a lack of understanding on their part. This may suggest that the community needs to be better informed about mining laws and regulations or that improved communication is needed.

4.2.6 Impact of mining on local communities4.2.6.1 Respondents facing impact of mining on their agricultural practices

Table 12 Impact of mining on their agricultural practicesRespondents facing Impact of Mining on Agriculture Count of Respondent's facing Impact of Mining on Agriculture

Yes 49

NO 34

Grand Total 83

Figure 18 Impact of mining on their agricultural practicesBased on the information received, 83 people were asked about how mining affects agriculture. Of those, 34 respondents did not experience the influence, but 49 respondents said they had.

When the data was interpreted, it becomes evident that a sizable percentage of the participantsroughly 59%reported are dealing with the effects of mining on agriculture. This implies that a significant number of respondents are concerned about the negative impacts of mining operations on agricultural methods in Chottaudepur, Gujarat.

4.2.6.2 Impact of mining on Agricultural production

Table 13 Impact of mining on Agricultural productionField1 Count of Field1

Increase 31

Decrease 19

Grand Total 50

Figure 19 Impact of mining on Agrucultural productionConsidering the data received, 31 respondents agreed that the sand mining operations are having a favourable impact on agriculture, probably because of available water from potholes for irrigation and fertile soil along the banks of river.

Decrease: There are implications showing detrimental effects in agriculture from the sand mining projects, with 19 instances. These might include socioeconomic difficulties, community uprooting, loss of livelihoods, and environmental destruction.

4.2.6.3 Communities that benefits from sand use

Table 14 Respondent benefiting from the uses of sandRespondent benefiting from the uses of sand Count of Respondent benefiting from the uses of sand

Yes 42

NO 28

Grand Total 70

Figure 20 Respondent benefiting from the uses of sandBased on the comments provided by respondents, an examination of the socio-economic effects of sand mining initiatives in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, has yielded some significant findings.

Those who Gain from Sand Use: Forty-two of the seventy respondents said that using sand had been beneficial to them. This suggests that a sizable section of the populace directly benefits from activities involving sand. These advantages can take the form of job openings, building projects, or the improvement of infrastructure.

Problems Faced by Non-Beneficiaries: The 28 respondents who said they did not benefit from using sand might be a group of people who are negatively impacted or have difficulties as a result of sand mining operations. These difficulties could involve habitat displacement, loss of livelihood in traditional industries, or environmental damage.

4.2.6.4 Type of benefit from sand use:

Table 15 Respondent benefiting from the uses of sandRespondent benefiting from the uses of sand Count

Agriculture purpose 21

Benifiting from Royalties provided by sand minors 9

building purposes 8

filling road 7

Grand Total 45

Figure 21 Types of benefit from sand useThe respondents who benefited from the many uses of sand in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, are broken down in the table. Based on the data:

Objective of Agriculture (21): Out of 45 respondents, 21 of them said that sand mining benefits agriculture. This is the biggest percentage of respondents. This suggests that sand is used a lot in agriculture for purposes like irrigation, improving soil, and building

bunds, among other things .

Getting Advantageous from Sand Miners' Royalties (9): Sand miners give royalties that assist nine responders. This implies that certain people or organizations stand to directly benefit financially from the extraction of sand, maybe as a result of leasing or licensing arrangements with mining corporations.

Building Purposes: Sand mining is beneficial for eight responders' construction projects. This might apply to builders, contractors, or other professionals working in the construction industry that use sand as a basic building ingredient for a variety of projects.

Filling Roads (7): Sand mining for road filling is beneficial to seven responders. This suggests that sand is used in the development of infrastructure, especially in the building or maintenance of roads, underscoring its significance in the transportation industry.

Therefore, it could be inferred that sand mining is essential resource for infrastructure development and construction as well as for agricultural operations. The fact that a sizable portion of respondents get royalties implies that sand mining contributes significantly to the local economy by giving participants the cash rewards. It is crucial to consider any potential drawbacks, too, such habitat damage, environmental deterioration, and disturbance of nearby residents. For the region's long-term prosperity, it is imperative to strike a balance between social welfare, environmental sustainability, and economic gains.

It is important to establish policies and regulations that guarantee sustainable practices in sand mining, alleviate adverse effects, and equitably divide advantages among interested parties, such as nearby communities and conservation initiatives for the environment. Ultimately, even if sand mining creates jobs in Chottaudepur, it must be managed properly to protect the environment and guarantee that stakeholders receive an equal share of the benefits.

4.2.6.5 Negative Impacts due to Sand Mining:

Table 16 Negative impacts due to sand MiningNegative impacts due to sand Mining Count of Negative impacts due to sand Mining

Decrease in ground water level 19

Destruction of nearby forest/Agricultural Area 6

increased dust particles due to transportation of sand 22

No negative impacts 27

river bed degradation 19

Grand Total 92

Figure 22 Negative impacts due to sand MiningThe data presented clearly shows that the sand mining projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, have a great deal of negative effects, as seen by the counts of several negative impacts:

Diminished Groundwater Level: It represents a total of count of 18, which suggests that sand mining operations have significantly lowered the groundwater level.

Destruction of Neighbouring Forest/Agricultural Area: Sand mining appears to be causing the neighbouring ecosystems, such as forests and agricultural fields, to be destroyed, as shown by this impact's count of 6. Long-term effects on food security and biodiversity may result from this.

Elevated Particles of Dust Owing to Sand Transportation: With 22 instances, the biggest number of adverse effects emphasizes the serious problem of air pollution brought on by sand transportation. For locals, an increase of dust particles might cause respiratory issues, and other health risks.

Riverbed deterioration: This effect, which has a score of 19, denotes the excessive sand mining-related erosion and deterioration of riverbeds. This has an impact on the aquatic ecology, increases the likelihood of floods, and modifies the shape of rivers. No bad Effects: It's interesting to note that 27 respondents said they don't think sand mining has any bad effects. This, however, may suggest a lack of knowledge or comprehension of the entire scope of the socioeconomic and environmental repercussions.

Interpretation and Discussion in General: According to the survey, sand mining in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, may be linked to a number of detrimental socioeconomic effects, such as harm to the environment, health hazards, and loss of livelihoods. These effects highlight the necessity of thorough regulation and long-term oversight of sand mining operations. While guaranteeing the sustainable use of natural resources, actions including environmental impact studies, community consultations, and rule enforcement can help lessen these adverse consequences. To reduce the negative effects on the surrounding environment and communities, other ways to fulfill the demand for sand, including encouraging the use of recycled materials or using eco-friendly extraction processes, should be investigated.

4.2.6.6 Employment jobs provided by Sand mining Industries:

Table 17 Employment jobs provided by Sand mining Industries:Impact of Sand Mining on Local Employment Count of Impact of Sand Mining on Local Employment

Yes 57

No 9

Grand Total 66

Figure 23 Employment jobs provided by Sand mining Industries:The evidence presented indicates that sand mining in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, has a notable effect on local employment. Nine respondents said there was no impact from sand mining projects, but 57 out of the 66 respondents said they had a good influence on local jobs.

This implies that Chottaudepurs sand mining operations are essential in creating job possibilities for the local populace. Many people and families in the area are likely able to support themselves because to the increase in jobs in the mining industry, which also helps the local economy expand and stabilize.

But its important to take into account any potential negative effects and worries related to sand mining, such habitat damage, environmental degradation, and possible health risks for labourers. Policymakers and stakeholders should give priority to sustainable practices and environmental conservation measures in addition to the large good influence on employment that comes with sand mining operations. This will help to reduce any negative effects that may arise.

The precise kinds of jobs generated by sand mining operations, how these positions are distributed across various demographic groups, and how long-term employment sustainability is in connection to the life of the mining projects are all areas that may benefit from more investigation and study.

4.2.6.7 Type of Employment Provided by Sand mining Industries:

Table 18 Type of Employment Provided by Sand mining IndustriesEmployment from Sand Mining Industries Count of Employment Jobs from Sand Mining Industries

Labour 33

Transport 11

Machine operator 7

Surveillance 4

Accountant 3

Computer Operator 1

Grand Total 59

s

Figure 24 Type of Employment Provided by Sand mining IndustriesBased on the information supplied on employment from the sand mining sectors, the assessment of the socio-economic effects of sand mining projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, highlights a number of significant points.

Employment Creation: A total of 59 jobs in a variety of industries have been generated as a result of the sand mining projects, greatly increasing employment in the area. This suggests that the initiatives have been effective in giving the local populace possibilities for a living. Labor-Intensive Nature: With 33 positions designated for workers, labor-related roles account for the bulk of employment. This implies that the extraction and processing of sand involves a large workforce, making sand mining operations labor-intensive.

Transportation industry: With the creation of 11 employment, sand mining projects also boost the transportation industry. This covers jobs like those of logistics workers and truck drivers who move sand from mining sites to different locations.

Machine Operation and Surveillance: Although they are less common, positions like those of machine operators (7 jobs) and surveillance people (4 jobs) suggest that mining sites require security and monitoring due to the existence of excavator machines used in processes.

Administrative positions: The administrative and technological components of managing sand mining operations, such as data processing and financial administration, are highlighted by the existence of positions like accountant (three jobs) and computer operator (one job).

Possibility for Skill Development: The range of jobs generated by sand mining operations points to the need for training and skill-building initiatives to boost the local workforce's employability across a range of industries.

Sustainable job: In order to guarantee long-term socioeconomic advantages for the neighbourhood, it is imperative to evaluate the sustainability of these job prospects. To evaluate the overall sustainability of sand mining enterprises in the area, it is critical to keep an eye on variables including employment stability, pay, working conditions, and environmental effects.

In summary, sand mining operations in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, have helped the local economy and job market, but for sustainable expansion, it's critical to weigh these advantages against environmental preservation and social welfare concerns. To optimize the favorable socio-economic effects of sand mining operations while reducing unfavorable externalities, regular monitoring, stakeholder involvement, and adaptive management techniques are crucial.

4.2.6.8 Royalties received by local Communities from Sand mining industry:

Table 19 Communities receive Royalties from Sand mining industries

Royalties from Sand Mining Industries for CommunitieCount of No

Yes 66

No 26

Maybe 1

Grand Total 93

Figure 25 Communities Recieve Royalties from Sand mining IndustiresBased on the information recieved, it appears that 93 people were asked about the socio-economic effects of sand mining projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat. Of them, 66 stated they had received royalties from the sand mining industry, 26 denied receiving any, and 1 said they were unclear ("Maybe"). The analysis and interpretation of these results can shed light on the distribution of advantages and issues surrounding sand mining in the area.

Advantages for Local Communities Out of the 93 respondents, 66 have reported receiving royalties from the sand mining industry. This implies that a sizeable section of the community is profiting monetarily from these initiatives. These royalties may help with community development, infrastructural upgrades, and improving the standard of living for locals. .

Unequal Distribution: The fact that 26 out of 93 respondents have not received royalties suggests that there may be differences or unfairness in how the advantages of sand mining are distributed. This calls into question the equitable distribution of resources and the degree to which all facets of the community are benefiting from them.

Uncertainty: The 1 out of 93 respondents who are unsure ("Maybe") about receiving royalties points to a possible lack of clarity or openness in the benefit distribution process. This ambiguity might be a sign that the government or mining firms working on the projects need to communicate and be more accountable.

Community Engagement and Participation: Determining the entire socio-economic effects of sand mining projects requires an understanding of the viewpoints of community people. The survey's findings offer insightful commentary that can help shape regional development and resource extraction policies and procedures. Overall, the majority of respondents appear to be profiting from royalties related to sand mining projects, but there are some indications of potential disparities and uncertainties that need to be looked into further to ensure that the communities involved have fair and sustainable development outcomes

4.2.7 Community Awareness of sand mining regulations and Health:

4.2.7.1 Health Concerns Resulting from mining:

Table 20 Health Concerns Resulting from miningHealth Concerns Resulting from mining Count of Health Concerns Resulting from mining

No 73

Yes 14

Grand Total 87

Figure 26 Health Concerns Resulting from miningTable 20 suggests that the information was gathered about potential health risks associated with mining operations. The summary is as follows: No Health Risks Associated with Mining: 73 cases Indeed, there have been 14 cases of health issues linked to mining.

This data clearly shows that the majority of respondents (73 out of 87) did not identify any negative health effects from mining. It's also noteworthy that some respondents did indicate health issues in some circumstances (14 out of 87).

Health issues can be serious and should be taken seriously, even if they are only mentioned by a small percentage of the population. Further research on the nature, scope, and contributing aspects of these issues would be crucial. Furthermore, resolving these issues is essential to protecting the health and safety of anyone engaged in or impacted by mining operations. Subsequent investigation and discourse may encompass investigating the particular categories of health issues raised, scrutinizing plausible associations with different mining operations or sites, and pondering about approaches to reduce the health hazards linked to mining.

4.2.7.2 Awareness of Safety Measures:

Table 21 Awareness of Safety Measures:No Count of No

Yes 53

No 29

Grand Total 82

Figure 27 Awareness of Safety Measures:Distribution of Responses: Yes: all 53 responders followed safety protocols.

No: 29 responders disregarded the safety precautions.

Adherence Rate: Of the 82 responders in total, 53 (or roughly 64.6%) followed the safety precautions, whereas 29 (or roughly 35.4%) did not.

Analysis: A sizeable percentage of the questioned population emphasizes safety precautions, as seen by the majority of respondents (64.6%) who claimed to adhere to safety measures. A sizeable minority (35.4%), meanwhile, claimed to have disregarded safety precaution

Implications:

These results imply that even while a sizable segment of respondents adhere to safety precautions, there is still opportunity for enhancement in encouraging adherence throughout the whole sample.

To raise adherence rates, tactics including more education, better communication about the significance of safety precautions, and perhaps even enforcement actions, may be required. It might be possible to identify target groups for customized treatments by doing more study on the demographic characteristics or situational settings impacting adherence.

Limitations: When evaluating the results, it is important to take into account the study's scope, methods, and sample characteristics. Generalization may be restricted, for example, if the sample is not representative of the population.

4.2.7.3 Awareness of Mining rules and policies

Table 22 Awareness of Mining rules and policiesNo Count of No

Yes 52

No 25

Maybe 9

Grand Total 86

Figure 28 Awareness of Mining rules and policiesLevels of Awareness: 52 respondents do indeed know the regulations and rules governing mining. This group has a high degree of awareness, indicating that a sizable proportion of the respondents are familiar with the laws regulating mining operations. No, according to 25 respondents, they are ignorant of the laws and regulations governing mining.

This suggests that a significant number of respondents lack awareness or comprehension, which may have consequences for following rules and complying with laws. Perhaps: Nine respondents expressed uncertainty or a lack of clarity in their understanding of the regulations and policies pertaining to mining.

Awareness Gap: An awareness gap is shown by the difference between the "Yes" and "No" answers. This disparity suggests that more people need to be made aware of mining laws through focused education and awareness programs. Ramifications Respondents' ignorance may result in non-compliance, which may cause legal problems, environmental damage, or disputes within the community over mining-related matters. The "Maybe" replies indicating uncertainty point to the need for more public knowledge on mining rules and practices to be clearly communicated and disseminated.

Recommendations: Through outreach programs, educational initiatives, and easily available information channels, government and regulatory authorities should give priority to measures aimed at enhancing public knowledge and comprehension of mining legislation. In order to make sure that stakeholders are aware about their activities and the relevant rules, mining corporations should also be involved in information dissemination and community engagement. Additional study: Qualitative study may be helpful in determining the causes of certain respondents' ignorance of the rules governing mining and the elements affecting their impression of them.

Furthermore, assessing the success of current education and awareness programs might point up areas that need improvement. All things considered, encouraging community involvement, encouraging safe mining activities, and reducing possible conflicts and environmental effects depend on closing the knowledge gap about mining laws and regulations.

5. CONCLUSIONThe present study is based on the assessment of the socioeconomic and environmental effects of sand mining projects in Chottaudepur, Gujarat. As per the data, sand mining operations in Chottaudepur, Gujarat, have a negative influence on the environment, especially the quality of the water. Reduced pH and DO levels, together with elevated turbidity, TSS, and nitrate levels, point to pollution and habitat destruction in the impacted areas. These environmental changes may have detrimental effects on nearby communities that depend on ecosystem services, as well as socioeconomic repercussions such as decreased water supply and biodiversity loss. Therefore, it is necessary to take action to lessen these effects and guarantee that the area uses sustainable sand mining methods.

The main conclusions and their ramifications related to the socio-economic assessment are as follows:

The information shows that sand mining has a number of detrimental effects, such as lowered groundwater levels, the devastation of neighbouring farms and forests, a rise in dust pollution, and erosion of riverbeds. Although several respondents said there were no negative effects, it's possible that this was due to their ignorance of the wider ramifications.

Local Employment: The majority of respondents acknowledged that sand mining had a good influence on job creation, indicating a considerable impact on local employment. But it's crucial to take into account any possible drawbacks, such worker health hazards and environmental deterioration.

Sources of Employment: The data illustrated a range of job opportunities brought about by sand mining, such as labour-intensive jobs, transportation, machine operation, administrative, and surveillance responsibilities. This implies that skill development programs and assessments of long-term employment sustainability are necessary.

Sand mining generates royalties for a sizable section of the population, demonstrating positive economic effects. Disparities in royalty distribution, however, bring into question issues of transparency and equality.

Health worries and Safety Measures: Although most respondents stated they had no health worries about mining, it is important to take care of any health issues that have been found and make sure that safety precautions are followed in order to reduce risks.

Knowledge of Mining Regulations: A significant portion of the participants exhibit a lack of knowledge regarding mining rules, underscoring the necessity of enhancing public education and involving stakeholders to guarantee adherence and mitigate adverse effects.

Employment and Household Composition: The data provided information on respondents' employment and household compositions, including a range of family configurations and employment levels.

All things considered, the information emphasizes how intricately public health, environmental preservation, and economic growth interact with sand mining activity. In order to maximize positive impacts while reducing negative ones, it highlights the significance of community involvement, extensive regulation, and sustainable practices. To address the issues raised and encourage balanced socioeconomic growth in the area, more studies and focused initiatives are necessary.

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Website References:

- District Chhotaudepur, Government of Gujarat | In the lap of Orsang | India. (n.d.). [Link](https://chhotaudepur.nic.in/)

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- Indian Kanoon. (n.d.). *Awaaz Foundation Anrs vs State Of Maharashtra Ors on 29 May, 2014*. Retrieved from [Link](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/119861269/)