Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol. 29, Jan. Suppl. Issue 2023; Page No.(517-523)

EFFECTS OF SAND MINING ON RIVERINE ECOSYSTEM ANDOTTER HABITAT IN KUDLI, TUNGABHADRA RIVER

R. Dhananjaya and Vijaya Kumara

Abstract

The Tungabhadra River in Karnataka has a significant amount of sand mining activity. With a growingdemand for sand reflecting rapid urbanization and population growth, regulation has proven difficultleading to exploitation with serious environmental implications. Sand mining is a generic term referring tothe process of extraction of sand from rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Illegal and unregulated sandmining would threaten the biodiversity of the river, and such alarming events were seen in almost all partsof the river Tungabhadra. The Tungabhadra River hosts India’s only otter conservation reserve, to conservevulnerable species of smooth-coated otter. Furthermore, the TB River has significant habitat for a viableotter population along the entire length of the river. A study was conducted from June 2017 to January 2020in 10 randomly selected stations with 31 sites. During the survey, we came across many threats to theotters, viz., pollution conflicts with fishermen, habitat deterioration by human activity, and so on. Amongthese factors, sand mining stands out to be the most disastrous to the survival of otter’s habitat. Among the31 sampled sites, only 1 site was chosen called Kudli, which is examined, studied, and discussed in thispaper.