Taking cognizance of the illegal mining of sand on the Budhabalanga river bed in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, the National Green Tribunal's East Zone has found flouting of regulations of multiple grounds. The tribunal also mentioned that the state authorities have been shielding the accused in the investigation. Details here.

A sand mine auction in Arhatpur village of Gaya district turned violent after local villagers protested against mining in their Morhar river. These villagers have been protesting against the sand mining for the last several years and claim that sand removal from the riverbed is increasing their vulnerability during floods, destroying their farmland and endangering livelihoods. A Gaon Connection ground report.

Whether it's the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, or the monuments devoted to political leaders in Lucknow, it is hard to ignore Mirzapur's contribution to the coveted pink sandstone. But the real cost is borne by the district's villagers who suffer diseases including tuberculosis, due to stone mining that has turned the region into a toxic dust bowl. A ground report.