SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Taking suo motu cognisance of O Heraldo report on illegal sand mining, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, Delhi has issued notice to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and North Goa Collector and fixed Wednesday, February 7, for hearing.
The NGT has further asked both – the GSPCB and North Goa Collector to appear before it either in person or by a pleader instructed with their report.
Earlier, O Heraldo in its report titled ‘Illegal sand mining continues unabated on Goan riverbeds’ stated that in spite of clear directives of the High Court of Bombay at Goa instructing the State government and Goa police to crack down on illegal sand mining, the problem persisted.
In its report titled ‘The monsoons are going, the sand mafia is coming’, published on September 27, 2023, O Heraldo reported that the illegal sand mining had surfaced in the Tiracol River during the Ganesh Chaturthi week.
The recurring issue had left locals exasperated, with some describing it as a pattern where illegal sand mining gained momentum once the monsoon subsided.
The Ugvem Gram Sangharsh Samiti had sent a letter to authorities, including the North Superintendent of Police, North Goa Collector and Directorate of Mines and Geology.
The letter included a list of individuals and locations involved in sand extraction and storage but it did not receive desired response from the authorities who were found to be passing the buck.
The complaints had expressed frustration that despite the High Court's clear instructions, illegal sand extraction in the Tiracol River continued unchecked.
Similarly, in South Goa, illegal sand mining was allegedly carried out near the ferry point at Rachol in Salcete taluka.
According to the O Heraldo report titled ‘Rachol locals claim illegal sand mining activity in their village’ (November 9, 2023), it was stated how these activities were being done mostly during the night time. The villagers decided to write to the local panchayat and the Captain of Ports, demanding immediate action against the miscreants.
These incidents underscore the challenges in preventing illegal activities in the region, especially in environmentally sensitive areas. It emphasises the need for stronger enforcement and vigilance to protect natural resources and maintain ecological balance.
