PANJIM: Directorate of Mines and Geology is awaiting environmental clearances (ECs) from the North Goa Collector to issue permits for sand extraction in River Chapora, providing much-needed relief to the construction sector.
Sand extraction in the State has been halted for more than two years ago following an order from the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Mines and Geology Director Vivek H P said the department will issue permits for sand mining only in River Chapora as per the preliminary report submitted by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dona Paula.
Vivek said that following preliminary reports by NIO, the department wrote to the District Magistrate, to obtain ECs from Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, so that the process of issuing permits could be started. “We are awaiting ECs from the District Magistrate,” he said.
NIO has been entrusted the study of three rivers – Mandovi, Zuari and Chapora – so as to resume sand mining. So far NIO has submitted a preliminary report of River Chapora.
According to Vivek, following complaints of illegal sand extraction the department in coordination with flying squads was conducting raids and seizing sand and machinery. The sand seized near river bed was later disposed back into the river.
Since sand mining was banned in Goa, the department confiscated about 3000 cubic metres of sand and disposed it back into the river. DMG is also exploring the option of using drones to prevent illegal sand mining, Vivek said.
However, in one case the department has seized 2000 cubic metres of sand (approximately 200 truck load) at Amona and is now facing the problem of disposing it since the seized material was lying about two-km away from the Amona bridge.
DMG has approached the court seeking permission to dispose seized sand even as the petitioner – Goa River Sand Protectors Network – opposed it. The petitioner has also filed a contempt petition before the High Court stating that the department had failed to comply the court directives.
Due to ban on sand mining there was severe shortage of sand in construction sector and sand prices were shooting up in the State.
