Team Herald
PANJIM: The four-month long seasonal ban on sand mining ended on Friday, with the new season slated to commence from Saturday.
Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has restricted sand extraction during the monsoon. The southwest monsoon season ended on Friday, with the State receiving nearly 120 inches of rains. “The seasonal ban ended on September 30. The new sand mining season will commence from October 1,” Mines Director Prasanna Acharya said.
Manual sand extraction is permitted in 24 clusters (riverine and estuarine). Some of the clusters include four in Dharbandora, three each in Salcete, Sanguem and two in Quepem. The rest are in Amona in Mandovi, Camurlim and Colvale in Colvale river, Keri and Uguem in Tiracol.
During the mining season, the department has imposed a ban on extraction activities between 6.00 pm and 6.00 am.
As per DMG guidelines, only sand extractors registered with the department prior to 2011 and of Goan origin will be allowed to undertake the activity.
An annual cap of 1400 cubic meters sand extraction per permit has been fixed.
DMG has decided to debar the permit holder and his family members from being granted sand extraction license for nearly five years, if they are found involved in illegal extraction.
