'Sand mining causing huge losses' (With: No sand mining from riverbed without green nod)

Highlights of the National Green Tribunal order banning sand mining from riverbeds across India.

* Mining activity is being carried out on a large scale causing state revenue loss which may be running into lakhs of crores of rupees.

* Majority of persons carrying out the mining have no license to extract sand and have not got green clearance.

* Removal of minerals from the river beds is causing serious threat to the flow of the rivers, forests upon river bank and environment of these areas.

* Sand mining on either side of the rivers is one of the causes for environmental degradation and also a threat to the biodiversity