PANAJI
The North Goa Collectorate has constituted a flying squad at the taluka level to curb illegal sand mining in the district with Deputy Collectors, Mamlatdars and Talathis directed to monitor and enforce appropriate legal action.
In a statement issued on Monday, District Collector Ankit Yadav stated that the concerned officers should take legal action during the crackdown on illegal sand mining. He also urged the public to report any instances of illegal sand mining by calling/ sending WhatsApp messages with photographs to the respective officers.
The development comes a month after the High Court of Bombay at Goa directed the government authorities to act responsibly to curb illegal sand mining.
The Division Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Nivedita Mehta observed that State government employees are expected to act as custodians of public property while also warning that illegal extraction, sale or export of sand, which is a State asset, directly harms the State’s interests. The Court had also stressed that officials must safeguard the State’s resources beyond mere compliance with court proceedings.
The Goa River Sand Protectors Network, during the last hearing, alleged that illegal mining and transportation continued despite court orders, and also provided photographs of recent operations in Mayem, Maina-Curtorim, and Bicholim.
