We are not running out of sand globally in the usual sense, but we are facing a serious shortage of the specific types of sand required for construction and industrial uses. About 40-50 billion tonnes of sand are extracted annually, making sand the second most consumed material after water. However, the sand used in concrete and construction must be coarse and angular, typically found in riverbeds, lakes, and seashores. Desert sand, which is abundant, is too smooth and rounded to be useful for these purposes. The high demand for construction-quality sand has led to over-extraction from rivers and coastal areas, causing environmental damage including coastal erosion, disappearing beaches, river depletion, and loss of habitats. Illegal sand mining has increased as legal supplies dwindle, often leading to social and ecological distress. Some regions already experience sand scarcity and rising costs, impacting infrastructure projects. Alternatives like manufactured sand and crushed granite are growing but not yet viable at scale in many areas due to higher processing energy and logistical challenges. The earth cannot replenish the types of sand we need as fast as we consume it, raising concerns about sustainable use and management to avoid worsening shortages and environmental damage in the future. Efforts are underway to regulate and find sustainable alternatives, but the sand shortage crisis is real and escalating.