IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i20p14952-d1261206.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable Silt Management in the Lower Kosi River, North Bihar, India: Demand Assessment, Investment Model and Socio-Economic Development

Author

Listed:
  • Rajiv Sinha

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India)

  • Kanchan Mishra

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India
    Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany)

  • Priyesh Salunke

    (TARU Leading Edge, 221 Ground Floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase III, New Delhi 110020, India)

  • Vidya Sounderajan

    (Formerly with Oxford Policy Management Ltd., 4/6, First Floor, Siri Fort Institutional Area, New Delhi 110049, India)

Abstract

The Kosi River, draining through Nepal and north Bihar, India, has been known for excessive sediment (commonly called silt) deposition—a primary cause of several hazards. However, there are still no good estimates of the volume of silt accumulated in the Kosi River channel, which makes removal and utilization of silt a major challenge, both technically as well as economically. In this work, we first present a novel method to estimate sediment volume on a reach scale using hydrological and channel planform data mapped from satellite images. We then identify various commercial uses of the Kosi River sediments such as embankment construction, backfilling, land reclamation, landscaping, agricultural applications, industrial applications, and geotextile silt walls. In consultation with various stakeholders, backfilling and embankment construction were identified as potentially the best solutions shortlisted for the development of a business case and investment model. Therefore, we prepared an investment model based on economic viability, cost-to-benefit ratio, and stakeholder consultations for two districts. We performed a SWOT analysis by breaking down the opportunities and risks into political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PEST-EL) factors to identify the pros and cons within the sector and of the ecosystem in which the stakeholders operate.

Suggested Citation

  • Rajiv Sinha & Kanchan Mishra & Priyesh Salunke & Vidya Sounderajan, 2023. "Sustainable Silt Management in the Lower Kosi River, North Bihar, India: Demand Assessment, Investment Model and Socio-Economic Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:14952-:d:1261206
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/20/14952/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/20/14952/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marius Dan Gavriletea, 2017. "Environmental Impacts of Sand Exploitation. Analysis of Sand Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-26, June.
    2. Walter Leal Filho & Julian Hunt & Alexandros Lingos & Johannes Platje & Lara Werncke Vieira & Markus Will & Marius Dan Gavriletea, 2021. "The Unsustainable Use of Sand: Reporting on a Global Problem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Mette Bendixen & Jim Best & Chris Hackney & Lars Lønsmann Iversen, 2019. "Time is running out for sand," Nature, Nature, vol. 571(7763), pages 29-31, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Víctor Gallardo Zavaleta & Luzma Fabiola Nava & Edith Kauffer & Octavio González Santana, 2023. "Local Knowledge of Sediment Exploitation in the Usumacinta River Basin: A Theoretical–Methodological Framework Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Walter Leal Filho & Julian Hunt & Alexandros Lingos & Johannes Platje & Lara Werncke Vieira & Markus Will & Marius Dan Gavriletea, 2021. "The Unsustainable Use of Sand: Reporting on a Global Problem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. John D. Morley & Rupert J. Myers & Yves Plancherel & Pablo R. Brito-Parada, 2022. "RETRACTED: A Database for the Extraction, Trade, and Use of Sand and Gravel," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.
    4. John D. Morley & Rupert J. Myers & Yves Plancherel & Pablo R. Brito-Parada, 2022. "A Database for the Stocks and Flows of Sand and Gravel," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Bin Lei & Linjie Yu & Zhiyu Chen & Wanying Yang & Cheng Deng & Zhuo Tang, 2022. "Carbon Emission Evaluation of Recycled Fine Aggregate Concrete Based on Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Md Golam Rabbani & Professor Pradip Kumar Panday, 2022. "Sand Extraction and Its Impact on the Livelihood of Rural People of Bangladesh: Evidence from Brahmaputra River," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(5), pages 801-807, May.
    7. Md. Mahfuzul Islam & A. Aldrie Amir & Rawshan Ara Begum, 2021. "Community awareness towards coastal hazard and adaptation strategies in Pahang coast of Malaysia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(2), pages 1593-1620, June.
    8. Dimitrios Vlachopoulos & Rannveig Björk Thorkelsdóttir & Despoina Schina & Jóna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, 2023. "Teachers’ Experience and Perceptions of Sustainable Digitalization in School Education: An Existential Phenomenological Study of Teachers in Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Iceland, and The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
    9. Maropene Tebello Dinah Rapholo & Isaac Tebogo Rampedi & Fhatuwani Sengani, 2023. "Tracing and Determining the Duration of Illegal Sand Mining in Specific River Channels in the Limpopo Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-26, September.
    10. Yunxin Peng & Adel A. Zadeh & Sheila M. Puffer, 2023. "Unearthing the Construction Industry’s Awareness of and Reactions to the Global Sand Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-17, November.
    11. Zalipah Jamellodin & Lim Qian Yi & Qadir Bux Alias Imran Latif & Hassan Amer Algaifi & Rafidah Hamdan & Adel Al-Gheethi, 2022. "Evaluation of Fresh and Hardened Concrete Properties Incorporating Glass Waste as Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-12, November.
    12. Julian David Hunt & Andreas Nascimento & Oldrich Joel Romero Guzman & Gilton Carlos de Andrade Furtado & Carla Schwengber ten Caten & Fernanda Munari Caputo Tomé & Walter Leal Filho & Bojan Đurin & Ma, 2022. "Sedimentary Basin Water and Energy Storage: A Low Environmental Impact Option for the Bananal Basin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    13. Willam Trujillo & Joseph Cobo & Dayanna Vera-Cedeño & Alex Palma-Cando & Jorge Toro-Álava & Alfredo Viloria & Marvin Ricaurte, 2022. "Magnetic Separation and Enrichment of Fe–Ti Oxides from Iron Titaniferous Beach Sands: Process Design Applied to Coastal Ecuador," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-14, December.
    14. Yuji Hara & Chizuko Hirai & Yuki Sampei, 2022. "Mapping Uncounted Anthropogenic Fill Flows: Environmental Impact and Mitigation," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, November.
    15. Garison Kiprotich & Isaiah Kimutai & Stephen Kimutai, 2023. "Performance Evaluation of Sand Screening Machine: Effect of Sieve Size and Moisture Content," International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science, International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS), vol. 12(09), pages 126-132, September.
    16. Vicent Esteban Chapapría & José Serra Peris & José A. González-Escrivá, 2022. "Coastal Monitoring Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Management of the Spanish Mediterranean Coast: The Case of Almenara-Sagunto," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, April.
    17. Marschke, Melissa & Rousseau, Jean-François, 2022. "Sand ecologies, livelihoods and governance in Asia: A systematic scoping review," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    18. Jessica L. Raff & Steven L. Goodbred & Jennifer L. Pickering & Ryan S. Sincavage & John C. Ayers & Md. Saddam Hossain & Carol A. Wilson & Chris Paola & Michael S. Steckler & Dhiman R. Mondal & Jean-Lo, 2023. "Sediment delivery to sustain the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta under climate change and anthropogenic impacts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Foley, Aoife M. & Griffiths, Steve & Bazilian, Morgan & Kim, Jinsoo & Rooney, David, 2022. "Decarbonizing the glass industry: A critical and systematic review of developments, sociotechnical systems and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    20. Arpita Bisht & Joan Martinez‐Alier, 2023. "Coastal sand mining of heavy mineral sands: Contestations, resistance, and ecological distribution conflicts at HMS extraction frontiers across the world," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(1), pages 238-253, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:14952-:d:1261206. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.