PANJIM: The activists fighting against the illegal sand mining activities in Goa have blamed the destructive environmental policies of the Goa government for the undeterred rise in illegal sand mining in the rivers of Goa.
They have said that in addition to the police and the Chief Secretary, the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) and the Captain of Ports (CoP) are also to be blamed for the continuance of the illegal activities.
Chandor activist Luel Fernandes said, “Sand extraction can’t happen without the mamlatdar, police and sand extraction mafia being hand in gloves. This illegality will not stop until the illegal constructions across Goa are stopped. Banks of rivers have been completely destroyed at various places.”
“Destruction of the environment is a result of bad government policies. Each boat fetches lakhs of rupees per day. They are not giving anything to the government. Corruption is going into the entire government functioning,” he said.
Convenor of Ugem Gram Sangharsh Samiti and ex-sarpanch Vinayak Mahale said, “Time and again we have been informing the Director General of Police (DGP) through complaints regarding the sand mining that has been carried out in our region in Ugem, Pernem. However, we were cross questioned on several occasions.”
“The order blames the police and Chief Secretary for the sand mining, but Captain of Ports (CoP) and Mining Department are also responsible for the illegalities. The CoP is in fact empowered to take action and ground the boats in violations. However, because all are hand in gloves there is no action taken,” Vinayak alleged.
Adv Norma Alvares, representing the Goa Rivers Sand Protectors’ Network (GRSPN) in High Court, said, “The court was appalled that despite all the orders and the assurances of Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chief Secretary (CS) illegal sand mining activities even in places where 24×7 police were posted continued illegally. It refused to accept the statement of the government that sand mining moves little up and little down the river when action is taken. When the places, roads, home of labourers and places of equipment have already been informed, it is surprising how the activities still continue.”
Alvares said, “The HC was looking at industrial sand as alternative to river sand. Alternative sources of sand are not easily available or available at an affordable cost. The court said that the government should make alternative options available.”
The HC on Tuesday heavily criticised the DGP and CS for having failed to stop illegal sand mining. The court also ordered both the authorities to file affidavit by April 17 providing the details of the proposed action to be taken against the police personnel responsible for preventing illegal sand extraction.
Meanwhile, the Advocate General (AG) has been directed to urgently place a copy of this order before the CS for necessary action.
