Illegal and unscientifc sand mining causes serious environmental damage. Legal regime, to regulate sand mining and address environmental concerns, often lacks efective implementation of policies and efcient governance. To avert this crisis of unsustainable sand mining, citizen participation must be promoted. This will require strengthening the Gram Sabhas, Panchayats, and other local bodies. People’s movement, akin to Chipko Andolan, that forges a civic culture against unsustainable sand mining and environmental damage will help in larger support for a legal regime against the illegal sand miners at the grassroots level. Higher education institutions are important stakeholders in addressing the issues and concerns regarding the environment damage. They have a role in educating and harnessing citizen participation and in creating and supporting a culture to arrest unsustainable sand mining