Team Herald
PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa has asked the Directorate of Mines and Geology to file an affidavit explaining the policy/proposed line of action of materials seized during raids on illegal sand extraction across the State.
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Hearing a petition filed by the Goa Rivers Sand Protectors Network, the division bench asked the department to file an affidavit giving details of canoes, suction pumps, seized trucks and other confiscated materials latest by September 3.
During the hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the court that a decision has been taken to auction these materials so that the same should not be used for the purposes of unauthorised sand extraction.
Adv Norma Alvares arguing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that there are two locations which are in fact the government properties where the illegal sand extraction continues unabated. She pointed out that some letters were also addressed to the Registrar of the Court in relation to mining at these sites.
Adv Alvares further submitted that the sites in question were PWD property at Amona below Amona bridge and property in Oxel-Bhati village in Siolim belonging to the Fisheries Department.
To this the Advocate General said that the nodal officer for North Goa district will file an affidavit by September 3 in relation to the activities at the above two sites.
The Court said that the nodal officer should also give some suggestions for prevention of the illegal sand extraction at the two sites.
Until the next date of hearing fixed on September 6, the court has directed the Goa police personnel to guard both the places warning that if any activity in relation to illegal sand extraction occurs at the aforesaid two sites till next hearing, then the Police Inspectors (PIs) of the police stations nearest to the two sites will be held prima facie responsible.
