Sand mining in Ken river triggers mass migration from Bodepurva village

By Bharat Dogra 

My first impression after reaching Bodepurva village, located at the far end of Naraini block, was that it was almost deserted. Among the few people moving around, most were elderly residents and children.

As I soon learned during discussions with villagers, most able-bodied young men and several women have migrated in search of work to cities such as Delhi and Surat. According to the villagers' estimate, only about one-fifth of the population remains in the village, while the rest have migrated. They attributed this large-scale migration to the severe disruption of their primary source of livelihood over the past five years.

Bodepurva is home to the Kevat community, which has been celebrated in Indian mythology. Today, however, its residents live in deep poverty. Basic infrastructure, including an all-weather road and a functional village school, remains inadequate, while housing conditions also need improvement. Villagers say the most significant factor behind their declining economic condition has been the loss of their traditional livelihoods, which were closely linked to the Ken River in the Bundelkhand region, flowing near the village on the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh border.

For generations, the community cultivated a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, including watermelons, on the fertile floodplains along the river. The Kevat community developed considerable expertise in this form of agriculture and, until a few years ago, supplied high-quality vegetables and fruits to a large surrounding region. Their produce was well known, and special orders were often placed for weddings and other social events. Families also consumed nutritious vegetables themselves and exchanged surplus produce with other farmers for food grains.

According to the villagers, a major change occurred about five years ago when large-scale river sand mining began along the riverbanks. They allege that excessive and indiscriminate extraction of sand severely damaged the area. While the sand was removed, mining debris was reportedly dumped across the floodplains, drastically altering the landscape. The fertile land where vegetables had long been cultivated became unsuitable for farming. As mining operations shifted to new stretches of the river, similar damage, they say, followed.

Villagers contend that within five years the traditional livelihood base of the Kevat community, known for its skilled vegetable cultivation, had largely collapsed. They believe this is the primary reason for the sharp increase in migration from Bodepurva. In their view, the short-term profits earned by a small number of powerful interests have come at the cost of sustainable livelihoods that had supported local communities for generations, while also reducing the supply of fresh, nutritious vegetables from the area.

During my visit, I also went to the riverbank where vegetable cultivation had flourished until a few years ago. The landscape now appeared heavily altered, with mining debris scattered across the area and stagnant pools visible in several places. Villagers recalled that the riverbank had once been like a second home, where they spent nights in temporary huts to protect their crops from animals. They now describe it as an unsafe and inhospitable place, saying that abandoned mining pits pose risks, particularly to children. In their view, the community's longstanding relationship with the river has been deeply disrupted.

Environmental concerns extend beyond livelihood losses. Environmentalists have argued that excessive removal of river sand can alter river ecology by affecting the river's capacity to regulate water flow, potentially increasing water scarcity during dry periods and worsening flood impacts during the monsoon. Sand mining can also contribute to declining water quality, disrupt aquatic habitats, and adversely affect fish, birds, and other wildlife, as well as livestock dependent on the river. If such impacts occur, they could have wider consequences for villages like Bodepurva that depend on the river for their livelihoods and daily needs.

The experience of Bodepurva raises broader questions about the balance between economic activity and environmental sustainability. While mining contributes to economic output, the long-term social, ecological, and livelihood costs borne by affected communities also merit careful consideration in assessing what constitutes genuine development.

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The writer is Honorary Convener of the Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril and Protecting Earth for Children