PANJIM: The unabated illegal extraction of sand from Tiracol River right under the nose of the government authorities is a classic example that standing order from the former Director General of Goa Police Indra Dev Shukla’s against the illegal sand mining is thrown to the wind.
Herald had recently conducted a ground zero research wherein the team observed that the width of the Tiracol River at Ugvem increased from 60 metres to 160 metres in the last 10 years. The villagers took the Herald reporters around to show the destruction sand extraction from the river has caused.
This was despite ex-DGP’s order to ensure effective enforcement of regulatory provisions on March 17, 2022. Ironically, the standing order was also submitted to the High Court of Bombay at Goa during the hearing of a related plea filed by a civic action group The Goa River Sand Protectors Network.
The High Court is time to time passing orders to ensure some mechanism is in place to deal with the issue of prevention and control of illegal sand mining in the State’s coastal belt.
In a detailed guideline submitted to all the officers, Shukla had warned that if any police officials performing duty on boat were found supporting such illegal activities and not taking strict action, it would be viewed seriously.
“Lax approach of any police officials towards the halting of illegal sand mining will be viewed seriously. Non seriousness in the specific duty assigned to you all individually and collectively to halt illegal sand mining will be dealt with departmentally. Whenever this office sends complaint relating the subject matter, not to ignore but swiftly take necessary action in accordance with the law, and inaction on the part of police officials to strictly carry out the directions assigned to them, will liable them to face serious consequences,” the ex-DGP had said.
He had directed the legal section of the Goa Police to enquire into all complaints filed by individuals against police officials for having failed to take action against illegal sand extraction and illegal sand transportation. These records, he demanded, should be placed before the DGP office every month.
