PANJIM: The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has banned sand extraction along Camurlim (CCI) and Colvale (CCII) areas following reports of the illegal activity in the Chapora River.
In a public notice, the Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya has warned that if there is any sand extraction activity in the banned areas exemplary fines of upto Rs five lakh per canoe and upto Rs one lakh per extractor will be imposed.
“On several occasions it was found that illegal sand extraction was carried out from Chapora River thereby violating various norms and regulations laid down by the DMG for legalising the activity, despite National Green Tribunal monitoring the same,” Acharya said.
The sand extraction at Chapora River is allowed in four identified zones- CCI Camurlim (zone covering Vagali/Khairat/Oxel and Camurlim), CCII Colvale (covering Colvale), CCIII Nadora (covering Revora and Nadora) and CCIV Ozorim/ Pirna (covering Ozorim, Pirna and Sangvan).
“It was repeatedly found that the sand permit holders and illegal extractors were carrying out sand extraction during night from CCI and CCII, which amounts to theft of mineral from government property,” Acharya said.
Hence, the department has imposed ban on sand extraction in CCI and CCII.
