Team Herald
MARGAO: All the talathis across South Goa have a week’s time to complete their ongoing survey of all illegal stone quarries or mines in their jurisdiction and also take action against such illegal quarries.
It may be recalled that all the deputy collectors and mamlatdars across the district were recently directed to instruct their respective talathis to do the survey and submit their reports by April 4. They were also asked to submit a checklist for necessary action.
This was communicated to them in a memorandum issued by South Goa Deputy Collector (Revenue) Snehal S Prabhu who added that her office would take action against stone quarries in South Goa, if found operating illegally, based on reports of the talathis. The memorandum further stated that if any illegal stone quarry or mine is found in operation after April 4, then the mamlatdars are to take action against the concerned talathi for dereliction of duty.
“It has been observed by the Chief Minister that there are a large number of cases of illegal mining and stone quarrying in various villages of the State. As per the Land Revenue Code, stone quarrying or mining, etc, carried out without permission, is termed as illegal conversion of land and, therefore action has to be taken in such cases by the concerned talathi by filling the checklist,” read the memorandum.
“The action taken report needs to include the details of existing illegal stone quarry or mine, if any, which has to be submitted to her office to initiate action,” the memorandum added.
This report has to be submitted to the authorities concerned, which also includes the mining department.
