
As many people in Goa are welcoming the closure of illegal mining and awaiting the commencement of a new mining regime where people have greater control of their mineral resources, there is far less attention given to sand mining which is more widespread and has literally ruined our rivers.
Excessive sand mining can alter the river bed, force the river to change course, erode banks and lead to flooding. It also destroys the habitat of aquatic animals and micro-organisms besides affecting groundwater recharge.
In Goa the destruction is devastating. And more and more illegal sand mining lobbies backed by politicians are growing and consolidating the ever-increasing demands of the construction lobby. And this lobby is growing due to the manner in which the Regional Plan was subverted and Outline Development Plans have taken over rural areas, under planning and Development authorities, which have been reduced to construction allowing authorities.
With such a sharp increase in construction activities, the demand for sand is insatiable.
The sand mining lobbies are very powerful. And nothing stops them. Not even the Courts. The Goa Rivers Sand Protectors Network, consisting of illegal sand mining warriors and other NGOs have been fighting a long battle in the courts and outside not only against illegal mining but its utter brazenness. It almost appears that not even the Court’s orders deter them. And what about the administration. Clear cut directives were issued to the Director of Geology and Mines by the court vide its order of 18.12 2019 that have not been followed. See box
Authorities like the Director of Mines and Geology, Transport, the police department and the Captain of Ports need to take accountability for these inactions. But the ineptness to act against illegal sand miners is proportional to the firmness of the illegal and politically connected sand mining lobby.
Some of the ground level findings of the Goa Rivers Sand Protectors Network are painstakingly documented with pictures and videos telling a story that is totally compelling and complete. It needs no further collaboration or investigation. Just plain action which has been found wanting. Even
after the December 18, 2019, High Court judgment in a petition filed by Rainbow Warriors, there has been no serious action based on the observations and directives of the Court
The Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice M S Jawalkar observed that canoes and trucks that are seized for illegal sand mining, are released after being fined
paltry sums. The Court ruled that the “state government should prosecute people who are involved in illegally extracting sand and other natural resources. An FIR should be filed under appropriate provisions of the Indian Penal Code and such cases should be pursued with all seriousness and taken to their logical conclusion.”
None of this has quite happened. The Goa Rivers Sand Protectors Network filed five complaints post the judgment. It also filed a contempt petition where it mentioned “Not a single boat has been confiscated, nor truck. Not a single FIR has been
filed though, in each area, dozens of persons are involved. Persons owning land on which the illegally extracted sand is stacked are not charged for being in receipt of stolen goods. The scenario is bizarre. The police have marine boats lodged in each river. There are adequate numbers of 3 patrolling vehicles. The trucks carrying sand do so openly at various public places. Illegal stacks of sand are allowed to be transported and sold, thus removing evidence.”
SHOCKINGLY ILLEGAL SAND EXTRACTION AND TRANSPORTATION STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFYER THE SCATHING HC JUDGMENT, IN FACT, THE VERY NEXT DAY
Some of the findings reported and submitted across several complaints to the Court are:
-Huge stacks of illegally extracted river sand were found in Sy.Nos.122 to 136 in Navelim-Maina, Bicholim Taluka. (Near Mohit Ispat Factory and Opposite to Amiantit factory.
-Sand extraction and transportation continued from Ghano-Savoi-Volvoi-Verem in Ponda taluka.
-Stacks were found at KhandolaTamsuli Betki road on Gail pipeline.
-Illegal extraction was taking place as on 21.12.2019 at Ghano – Savoi. Stacks are seen at the same
location.
-Stacks of illegally extracted river sand are found in Volvoi.
-Several trucks carrying illegally extracted river sand were seen moving on Savoi Verem to Ponda and Marcel road
Similar activities of rampant sand extraction and transportation were seen in Savoi Verem, Camurlim, Amona.
Oxel (Siolim), Marcel-Sankhali road, near the Amona Junction and along the Vere-Mashel road in Volvoi Panchayat.
Canoes were also used for this illegal activity.
-Nine canoes were seen extracting sand from the Khandepar River
- Two canoes were seen extracting sand opposite Rampurush temple, Phonchebhat-Volvoi.
-16 canoes were seen extracting sand in the Ghongre-Maina area, Navelim taluka. Some of these were seen unloading at Sy No. 142 of Maina, Navelim.
Have you ever wondered why sand mining has never been a major issue for discussion in the Goa Assembly? Do you recall a single adjournment motion sought to debate this? Has any government even hinted at setting up a preliminary investigating team, to probe all the complaints?
Fingers should be pointed at all MLAs especially in areas where this activity has been found. If a group of eco-warriors with their phones can document so much by just visiting the suspected areas, why can’t a police network across Goa do better than registering just one FIR all this while against unknown persons.
There is a need for greater scrutiny and constant media and people pressure to act against illegal sand mining. Or else the long arm of the illegal sand mining lobby will continue to play with the not so long arm of the law in this case.
Sujay Gupta is the Consulting Editor Herald Publications and tweets @sujaygupta0832