In India there are “sand mafia” who illegally dig up sand from river beds. It is profitable because it’s used in construction so much.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/bjp-to-launch-movement-against-sand-mafia/ar-BB1qRsLo
There has been some crackdown but the government does not intend to solve this problem. First of all, the fascists do not give a single fuck about the environment. But more importantly, criminals like this are often in cahoots with the local government officials.
Sand for construction is a limited resource. Not every sand works to make concrete.
Generally, it has to be river sand, because sea sand has salt and must be washed, and open air sand is pulished by wind, making it worse for building.
It still works, it generally tends to crack more easily or damage steel bars due to salt.
This is awesome! I’ve heard liberals talk about China’s sand usage as part of their China-bad smearing without offering any solutions. Artificial sand from mine tailings (a waste product) has basically no downsides, since those tailings would be produced regardless.
Tbh, now they have to manufacture the artificial sand…
Which they’re doing, using a waste stream. I imagine the machinery is largely diesel at the momebt, but could be converted to electric in due time
