Rules drafted to legalize sand mining, says Director of Mines
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Directorate of Mines and Geology has received total 93 applications for the grant of permits for sand extraction through manual methods, till Monday. The department has extended the last date for submission of applications till August 31. The ban on mechanised sand extraction still continues in the State.
Reacting to the National Green Tribunal orders on sand mining, Director of Mines Prasanna Acharya said that government has drafted rules to legalize sand mining. “We have made environment clearance from Environment Impact Assessment Authority mandatory,” he said adding ‘all the steps taken by government would be put up before NGT’.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest had approved in November 2011 the removal of sand or sand bars in coastal regulations zone (CRZ) areas of rivers and estuaries. Accordingly, in December 2012 government constituted two committees to regulate sand mining, as approved by MoEF.
Along with the imposition of restriction on sand extraction per person per year, the committees identified 12 areas in north Goa along the River Tiracol, Chapora and Mandovi for extraction. It was also decided to mark safety zones and eco-fragile zones, where extraction is banned.
Sand extraction will be allowed at Kiranpani, Devsu, Konnadi and Bagayat areas in River Tiracol. The areas of Colvale, Nadora, Ozrom-Pirna and Camurlim have been identified in River Chapora and Amona-Virdi, St Estevam, Betki-Khandola and Savoi-Verem in River Mandovi.
Mines department on July 30, through a circular, invited applications for sand extraction only from traditional communities, who indulge in sand collection in non-mechanised dinghies or small boats using baskets/ buckets.
Assistant Director Mines Parag Nagarcekar said that department has extended the last date for submission of applications till August 31.
“The decision as when to allow them to extract sand would be taken by the north Goa district committee headed by the Collector,” he added.
The government-constituted panels have identified 12 areas in north Goa for manual sand extraction. Kiranpani, Devsu, Konnadi and Bagayat areas in River Tiracol; Colvale, Nadora, Ozrom-Pirna and Camurlim in River Chapora; and Amona-Virdi, St Estevam, Betki-Khandola and Savoi-Verem in River Mandovi
