The Ken River is a vital lifeline for the Bundelkhand region of Central India. As an important tributary of the Yamuna, it forms part of the larger Ganga-Yamuna system. For countless villages along its banks—especially riverside communities renowned for their skill in growing vegetables and fruits—the Ken is not merely a water source. It is life itself. The river is also home to many spots of exceptional beauty and heritage.
In recent years, however, the Ken and its tributaries have been ravaged by sand mining. Worse still, the river now faces the prospect of heavy water withdrawal for a river-linking project—even though the existence of surplus water has never been established, and low availability during lean seasons is already a frequent reality. While the river has seen destructive floods in recent decades, water scarcity in dry seasons is equally real. In several contexts, both floods and scarcity are aggravated by man-made factors, and excessive sand mining contributes to both.
Sand mining has been carried out in this river for years at levels far beyond sustainability. Rules and precautions meant to ensure ecologically safe mining have been ruthlessly violated, and those who question or challenge this have been threatened with violence.
Small-scale, manual mining carried out with care for river protection may cause little harm to the ecology. But what has actually happened is very large-scale, indiscriminate mining using heavy machinery. Instead of confining itself to riverbanks or floodplains, this machinery digs deep into the riverbed, requiring temporary bunds to be built. This depletes water in dry seasons while increasing the threat of erosion and floods during rains. The river's capacity to absorb and retain water and to replenish aquifers is adversely affected.
The increasing turbidity created by machinery, bund-making, and sediment removal is harmful to aquatic life. Fish and other species may perish in large numbers or suffer gradual decline. The irrigation and water needs of humans, farm and domesticated animals, and wildlife across the vast riverbank area are also affected. This has particularly severe consequences in Bundelkhand, where the number of stray cattle is very high and their dependence on river water is acute. Large-scale mining can create conditions in which animals cannot safely access the river to quench their thirst. If the river is badly depleted in the pre-monsoon summer months, this can be disastrous for a large number of stray animals, while difficulties for other animals also increase.
It is therefore essential to check highly destructive sand mining on the Ken. Powerful mafias are active in this trade, using massive corruption and threats to violate existing rules and even court directives. While some mining leases may be obtained legally, a great deal of illegal mining also takes place, and the truckloads of sand carried away far exceed any sustainability norms. While travelling on these roads in recent years, I have seen huge mounds of extracted river sand and long rows of loaded or about-to-be-loaded trucks even when severe restrictions on mining are supposed to be in place.
While destructive sand mining has been taking place along several stretches of the Ken, matters came to a head some years ago in a riverbank village called Kolawalpur Raipur, located in the Mahuwa block of Banda district. On one hand, the river was being ravaged by mining on a very large scale using heavy machines. On the other, wages of several workers were not paid, and compensatory payments were not made to farmers whose fields were converted into roads for trucks carting sand away from the river site.
Villagers presented a mix of demands: curbs on destructive mining practices, payment of proper wages to workers, and compensation to farmers. They opposed heavy mechanization and demanded a change in mining methods so that the river is better protected while workers using manual methods get more employment. When their demands were not accepted, villagers gathered at the riverbank. Women played a leading role. Several of them entered the river water and stayed there for a long time, shouting slogans and offering prayers, asserting their determination to protect the river.
Later, when the protesters moved towards the road, people from other nearby villages joined them. The fear of a fast-growing protest finally led to rapid action by the authorities, and most of the demands of this river struggle—or jal satyagraha—were accepted. However, this was only a success at one mining site, as indiscriminate and heavy mining continued at several other sites. Wider efforts are certainly needed to protect and save this river.
In particular, it is important for the government to protect the livelihoods of riverbank communities like the Kewats—who find an honourable mention in mythological literature—and who have long been known for their excellent skills and knowledge in cultivating vegetables and fruits in riverbank conditions. Their livelihoods have suffered massive losses due to indiscriminate sand mining.
What is more, several of these problems may worsen in future due to plans for diverting a large portion of the river's water for a river-link project, using a new dam and canal. This would also involve the felling of about three million trees. Several well-informed persons, including former officials and scientists who have made a special study of this region, have stated that the availability of excess water in the Ken River is not at all well-established. Instead, the shortage of water in lean seasons has been clearly seen in several years.
The threat faced by the Ken increases further because several of its tributaries are also facing serious problems due to sand mining and overall environmental degradation. In fact, the very survival of some of these smaller tributaries is in question.
Keeping in view all these factors, there is clearly a need for a sustained, evidence-based campaign to protect the Ken River and the livelihoods and safety of people who live close to it. A well-formulated plan is needed to save and protect the Ken and its tributaries—one integrated with the protection of livelihoods as well as heritage and natural beauty sites. There is also scope for green tourism based on heritage and naturally beautiful sites, which should provide livelihood support to local villagers. This plan and its implementation should be carried out in cooperation with local people, particularly the weaker and more vulnerable sections who need more help.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Protecting Earth for Children, and Man over Machine. His website is bharatdogra.in, and his YouTube channel is Bharat Dogra | Save Earth Campaign
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