Being vigilant about those attempting to plunder natural resources seems to be a full-time job. A report in this paper spoke of a river in Panvel being dredged with suction pumps. Despite sand mining being banned by the Bombay High Court back in 2010, rivers are rampantly dredged throughout the state, with dangerous suction pumps.

While mining per se is good within limits and in designated areas, unscrupulous elements are rampantly engaging in illegal mining to feed the need of rapidly expanding cities in Maharashtra. A green report has explained that excessive sand mining can alter river beds, force rivers to change course, erode banks and cause flooding. It also destroys the habitat of the living beings and micro-organisms that thrive in them. Illegal mining puts rivers at a huge risk of drying up. This is a big red flag for an already degrading environment.