PANAJI
After missing out on almost six seasons, the State government is hopeful of resuming sand mining activities through traditional method in three rivers - Mandovi, Zuari and Chapora this season.
Speaking to media persons, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the Directorate of Mines has applied for Environmental Clearance (EC) for sand mining in three riverbeds - Mandovi, Zuari and Chapora and the same is likely to be granted within a month’s time.
“Once the EC is obtained, permissions will be granted for sand extraction through traditional method only,” he said, adding that the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has submitted a report on sand mining in these three rivers while the Tiracol river report is awaited.
He also said that issues related to transportation of sand from other states have been sorted out. He said that on payment of Rs 500 per trip as fee, interstate sand transportation will be permitted.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology has not renewed or granted sand mining permits for the last six seasons “ 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023“ after an NGO approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking restrictions on the number of sand mining permits.
Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira said that the authorities will follow the due procedure for grant of EC and other permissions. “There are various stages of approval. We will see that mining through traditional methods only is permitted,” he said.
The DMG has applied for EC with the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (Goa-SEIAA).
A petition filed by the Goa River Sand Protectors Network (GRSPN) in November 2021 is pending before the National Green Tribunal wherein it had challenged the Goa-SEIAA green nod for sand mining in four different locations in River Chapora - Zone 1 in Morjim, Zone 2 in Pirna, Zone 5 in Ozorim and Zone 7 Agarwada.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) had in December 2022 invited applications from persons from the local community for grant of sand extraction permit for 1,000 cubic meter for one year in these zones. Total 125 applications were received.
