Advocate General Devidas Pangam in a submission before the National Green Tribunal said that the State government will not pursue the four environmental clearances granted in 2021 since they were issued without the District Survey Report (DSR). The AG also mentioned that the government is preparing a DSR as required under the law following which the process of granting fresh ECs will begin.
The development comes as a big relief to The Goa River Sand Protectors Network who have been fighting against the ECs granted in October 2021 signalling the resumption of sand mining in River Chapora, Morjim, Mirna, Camurlim, Revora, Ozorim and Agarwada with a cap of 15 cubic metres daily per permit at each location. Pleas about the damage that would be caused to the estuarine area of River Chapora and the turtle breeding areas of Morjim fell on deaf ears, let alone the District Survey Report.
DSR is crucial to identify the resources available against mining activities. The report helps in the assessment of aggravations or deposition where mining can be allowed, it also helps in the identification of areas of erosion and understanding the rate of replenishment, and above all, it helps in the identification of mineral wealth in the district. This report contains details of leases, sand mining activity and revenue that would come from minerals in the district. A survey is carried out by the members of the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority with the assistance of either one of the departments ” Geology Department, Irrigation Department, Forest Department, Public Works Department, Mines Department. The rules specify that the DSR report has to be prepared as per the guidelines issued by MoEF & CC.
The question is, how did the State government proceed with only an NIO study without factoring in the need for a DSR report? The NIO report of October 2023 focuses on geological, geophysical and biological aspects of Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora and Tiracol. This means the report will explain the sediment getting deposited or withered and the suitable areas for sand extraction. Why were the requirements of a DSR overlooked? And what about the thriving illegal sand mining that is going unabated while we have hit the pause button?
The ban on sand mining has parallely triggered demand and that has in turn led to large-scale illegalities. The High Court has pulled up the DGP and the Chief Secretary for failing to control illegalities to an extent that it observed both were seriously not interested in preventing illegal sand mining in the State. The court stated that it is not only a question of disobeying orders but of not protecting Goa’s natural resources.
The State has seen a construction boom over the last few years with builders and real estate lobbies initiating massive projects. The demand for sand has grown exponentially, and sand mafias have succeeded in banking on the situation with prices of sand escalating by at least six to seven times. The larger concern is that rampant extraction of sand could cause irreversible resources to riverbeds and beaches. Lest we forget, the High Court had taken a serious view of the unauthorised sand mining in Ragada, a tributary of Mhadei.
This was hypocrisy at its very best. While everyone talks about Mhadei being a lifeline, State authorities have been turning a blind eye to the daylight exploitation, with sand, gravel and pebbles being mined inside Ragada and Jamboli rivulets posing a threat to the flood plains and ecology of the area.
It’s time the lip service to the environment and natural resources must stop. Those failing to crack the whip on illegal sand mining can't speak of protecting the environment and ecology of the State.
