PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday assured the Legislative Assembly that the Goa government has implemented interim measures including legal transportation of sand from neighbouring Karnataka, to ensure there are no sand shortages and price escalation in the State.
With the issue of illegal sand mining pending before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, Sawant assured they have adopted all measures till the matter is decided.
“We are aware that without sand, it is not possible (to carry out construction related activities) … which is why we entrusted the NIO to conduct a study. The reports of Chapora, Mandovi and Zuari are submitted… The Collector North and South had applied for environment clearance and in one to one and half months, we will be able to officially issue licenses to restart sand mining,” he said, in reply to a starred question by MLA Cruz Cardozo.
In his written reply, the CM stated that the process of issuing permits for sand extraction from Goan rivers is in progress and once completed, permission will be granted.
During the discussion, the CM admitted that the traditional way of sand mining has been replaced by ‘suction pumping’, which led to overexploitation and as a result, the activity had to be stopped following directions of the Court.
“We are doing everything possible to keep the rates of sand under control in Goa. Through the Mines & Geology department, we have allowed legal transportation of sand from Karnataka wherein each trip is charged Rs 600 for 8 MT…Once dredging is complete, a large quantity of sand can be sold…” he added.
The sand imported from the neighboring State is being regulated in terms of Rule 47 of Goa Minor Mineral Concession Rule, 1985, upon verification of documents. The government revealed that a large volume of illegality occurred in South Goa.
