TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Union Ministry of Mines has directed the State government to notify the areas for sand mining along river beds and clear all applications for sand extraction within the next six months.
Giving an assurance that it would approach the Supreme Court to seek a clarification on the need for obtaining environmental clearance (ECs) for minerals for areas less than 5 hectares, the Mines Ministry has directed the government to provide details of the latest policy formulated for sand mining in the State.
During a recent meeting held with all the State governments that had interests in sand mining, the ministry had sought details of the action taken on illegal sand mining for the last three years till September 30, 2014 and asked for specific details on the number of cases of illegal mining that were detected, action taken, and the amount of penalty/fine collected.
Mines Secretary Dr Anup Pujari informed the State about the decision by the Ministry by which State Governments have been advised to notify all mineral concession proposals for transparency and revert to the Ministry within six months in case the State Government is not in a position to notify the area by giving reasons for not doing so.
During the meeting, most of the States pointed to the rise in cases of illegal sand mining due to the stringent requirement of obtaining ECs from Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). “We will file an interlocutory application before the Apex Court seeking clarification as to whether the requirement of obtaining ECs for minor minerals for less than 5 hectares area is a permanent obligation or whether it is only a transitory requirement till such time all the State Governments frame rules under Section 15 of MMDR Act,” Pujari said.
There are currently over 500 applications of sand mining pending before government, which is waiting to carry out Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study along the river beds. It has already identified nearly 39 potential sand mining areas in North Goa for carrying out sand mining by using traditional methods along Tiracol, Chapora and Mandovi river beds.
