CHAPORA: Canoes used for the illegal extraction of sand are hidden in plain sight along the banks of the Tiracol and Chapora Rivers, but strangely, have somehow managed to escape the radar of the coastal police and other authorities, who find it difficult to trace them.
Herald’s visit to a few secluded riverside sites revealed that several canoes operated by the sand mafia and fitted out with the necessary equipment for sand mining were tethered along the riverbanks all day, and are only taken out during the nights when the extraction is carried out clandestinely.
Similar canoes can be seen anchored near Naibagh Bridge and Kiranpani Bridge along the Tiracol River, while along the Chapora river, such canoes can be seen near the Camurlim Jetty, Oxel, Revora and Talarna Tormas Bridge.
A Captain of Ports (CoP) official said that the canoes used to extract sand were registered when the mining of river sand was legal, are now being kept hidden, and are difficult to trace.
Every boat being operated in the waters within the State needs to be registered with the Captain of Ports. Most of these boats involved in illegal sand extraction were registered when sand mining was legal. The canoes and boats were initially used for the transportation of sand, tiles, and other such goods but later, people converted them and began using them for the extraction of sand. We have stopped issuing new licences or renewing licences, due to this issue,” said a CoP official.
Locals say the sand extraction operation from the canoes begins quite late at night and goes on until sunrise, at times, but have somehow never been raided by the authorities. They also find it perplexing that the coastal police, who are supposed to patrol these rivers regularly, have never spotted or raided these canoes that remain anchored at the same places all day. “These canoes are never seen moving around in the daytime, and are only taken out at night, so it becomes difficult for us to keep an eye on them. However, we have caught the canoes and the illegal miners in action several times and informed the local police, but the police never took any action,” said M Naik, a local resident.
“The concerned authorities should inspect and seize the canoes which are anchored along the river. There are hundreds of such canoes which are used for illegal sand mining. The authorities need to impose huge penalties to curb these operations, which could lead to the destruction of the entire river and its banks,” said Raul, another villager.
“There were some traditional sand miners, but due to the illegal extraction, they are suffering, unable to continue their traditional occupation. We are trying to legalise sand mining but every time an environmental activist or NGO approaches the court, the process gets hampered,” the official added.
Initiate steps to urgently start sand mining through traditional Extractors: CM
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday directed the Mines Department to initiate necessary steps to start sand mining activities through traditional extractors on an urgent basis.
Sawant held a review meeting with Advocate General, Chief Secretary, DGP, Secretaries, Collectors, Mines Department officials, and other senior officers regarding issues related to sand mining and laterite quarries in the State. In a statement issued, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the Chief Minister has issued instructions for a strict vigil on illegal mining activities including sand mining.
The CM has directed that necessary steps are to be taken to start sand mining through traditional extractors on an urgent basis, CMO said.
The Mines Department has been directed to process all the pending applications pertaining to minor minerals on priority.
The CMO said that the department has also been directed to put in place a proper online transit pass system for the transportation of sand or other minor minerals from neighbouring States.
