PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has asked the state government to verify reports that illegal sand mining is taking place in the Mhadei River.Hearing a petition filed by the Goa River Sand Protectors Network, the High Court took on record submissions by Adv Norma Alvares and directed the concerned authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators.
“For the present, we only request the learned Advocate General to see that the concerned officials of the Forest Department and the concerned Nodal Officer to inspect the site or the sites referred to in the newspaper reports and ascertain whether the reports are true. If the reports are true, then, needless to add that the Officials must take immediate action considering that the allegation is about such illegal activity within the wildlife sanctuary,” the High Court bench of Justices M S Sonak and Bharat Deshpande, ruled.
The Goa River Sand Protectors Network -- an association of various individuals and village groups -- who had petitioned the High Court to intervene and ensure the implementation of the ban on sand mining -- has been tasked by the High Court to keep an eye out for instances of illegal sand mining and report to the authorities any violations accompanied by inaction from the police that they notice.
