A Supreme Court appointed committee has recommended phasing out unsustainable sand extraction from active river channels across India within the next three years. Instead, it has proposed using alternative sources such as reservoir sediment, manufactured sand and recycled construction waste to meet the growing demand for building materials.
The recommendations are part of Report No. 36 of 2026 submitted by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to the Supreme Court on November 2. The report was filed in connection with the court’s suo motu proceedings on illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary, which were later expanded to cover river sand mining across the country.
The CEC has recommended preparing a time bound roadmap to gradually reduce unsustainable sand extraction from active river channels over three years while developing sufficient alternative sources.
One of the key proposals is to recover usable sediment from dams and reservoirs through systematic desilting. The committee believes this could help restore reservoir storage capacity while supplying part of the sand required by the construction industry.
It has suggested that eligible desilting projects should be awarded within the next three years, followed by a structured 10-year desilting cycle for reservoirs identified as suitable.
Under the proposed plan all storage dams more than 15 years old that have not undergone systematic desilting should be assessed. Around 10% of the reservoirs found suitable could then be desilted each year.
The recovered material would be sold through transparent mechanisms. However, the committee clarified that the recommendation does not mean every dam must undergo desilting.
Reservoirs Have Lost Nearly 19% of Their Storage Capacity
The report cited data presented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in Parliament in December 2025 showing that 439 assessed reservoirs had lost an average of 19.24% of their gross storage capacity due to sedimentation.
As many as 23 reservoirs had lost more than half of their storage capacity.
The report highlighted the example of Gobind Sagar reservoir behind the Bhakra Dam, whose storage capacity has declined from 9,868 million cubic metres (MCM) to approximately 7,300 MCM, representing a reduction of around 26%.
According to the CEC removing accumulated sediment could serve two purposes: restoring reservoir storage and providing an additional source of construction material.
The committee has also called for stronger monitoring of mineral extraction and transportation to improve transparency and prevent illegal sand mining.
It recommended that state mining departments establish digital monitoring systems to record mining permissions, authorised extraction quantities actual removal, transit permits and the final use of minerals.
The proposed system would include secure electronic transit permits equipped with unique QR codes barcodes or radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to track the movement of sand and other minerals.
The CEC also suggested that the Ministry of Jal Shakti lead the development of a comprehensive national framework in consultation with the Central Water Commission, National Dam Safety Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and state governments.
The framework would identify reservoir wise sediment availability, recoverable quantities, processing requirements, timelines, financing arrangements and environmental safeguards.
Despite recommending reservoir desilting as an alternative the committee acknowledged that the country does not yet have a reliable national assessment of how much accumulated sediment can actually be used as construction sand.
It cautioned that the total volume of sediment in reservoirs cannot automatically be treated as recoverable or commercially usable material. Technical feasibility, environmental restrictions and processing requirements must first be considered.
The report also pointed out that India lacks a consolidated and reliable national database estimating the total volume or value of illegally extracted river sand. Available information is insufficient to establish a scientifically reliable nationwide figure.
The latest recommendations mark a shift from earlier efforts that primarily focused on restricting or banning sand mining in specific areas.
A 2020 CEC report on Rajasthan had found that legal sand collection declined from approximately 57 million tonnes annually to five million tonnes after the Supreme Court imposed restrictions on mining. The report identified the resulting supply gap as a major factor contributing to illegal extraction.
The new recommendations therefore emphasise developing alternative sources while ensuring that legitimate construction requirements continue to be met.
The committee also cited the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s desilting project as a potential model. The project plans to excavate sediment deposits up to two metres deep in the Bhakra reservoir.
The Supreme Court had sought the latest report on October 6 after expanding its proceedings beyond the National Chambal Sanctuary. The court had previously warned that uncontrolled river sand mining could have disastrous consequences for river ecosystems.
The proposed measures aim to balance construction sector demand with river conservation improved reservoir management and stronger enforcement against illegal mining.