Sand Mining Case Study

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2.3 Sand and gravel mining in Africa
There is a great concern on the way the environment is disturbed by excessive removal of soil for construction industry especially in urban development in Africa. Mwangi (2008) noted that for thousands of years, sand and gravel had been used to construct strong houses, roads and dams in Africa since they are cheap and readily accessible resources. Today demand has increased as socio-economic life of Africans has improved generally. Sand mining and gravel extraction are common in most African states but done both legally and illegally. Lawal (2011) examined sand and gravel mining activities both on land and in rivers as a business venture in Minna Emirate Council of Niger State. Stakeholders from the mining activities were listed as landowners of quarry sites who sold the sand and gravel to private and government contractors. Local government authorities and Niger State where quarries are located, were also listed as beneficiaries. The activities also involve farmers whose cultivating and grazing lands are destroyed, wildlife community whose habitats are mined
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The sand mining and gravel extraction are done legally and illegally on rivers, beaches and plain fields. Wachira (2009) supported Mwangi by reporting on a case study survey on sand mining in Machakos District of Kenya which is increasing due to the need for soil in construction industry. The survey showed that approximately two hundred thousand tonnes of soil are harvested and mined for construction every year. Streams around Machakos and Mwala Districts are seriously damaged as trucks transporting soil pass along Mombasa and Thika highways. The trucks pass at intervals of five every half an hour. The government had to establish Natural Environmental Watchdog of Kenya, with a list of guidelines to soil harvesters and traders in Eastern