Authority tells NGT sand bar removal is allowed under rules
PANAJI
In what may be seen as a ray of hope for the resumption of sand mining in the State, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that while sand mining is banned in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, the removal of sand bars using traditional methods is allowed under existing rules.
In an affidavit filed before the tribunal, Director of Environment Sachin Desai referred to a November 2021 notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which provides guidelines for removing sand bars in CRZ areas.
According to the notification, sand bars in intertidal zones can be removed by traditional coastal communities using manual methods. The State government can permit such activity for a fixed period and limited quantity, subject to conditions. These include registering local community members involved in the work, with permissions to be renewed every year.
Based on these provisions, the GCZMA told the tribunal that “in view of the same, the present appeal is liable to be dismissed.”
The affidavit relates to a case challenging the grant of environmental clearance (EC) for sand mining in a CRZ area, specifically in the alleged Zone IV (Khandola) stretch of the Mandovi River. The Goa River Sand Protection Network has opposed the EC granted for sand extraction over 4.55 hectares, with a permitted capacity of 1,000 cubic metres per year using traditional methods.
However, the GCZMA clarified that it has not yet granted any No Objection Certificate (NOC) for sand mining in the area, and any proposal will be considered strictly as per the rules set by the Ministry.
“The present appeal is premature as no permission or NOC has been granted or considered for mining in the CRZ area of the alleged Zone IV. Any pending application will be decided as per law,” the affidavit stated.
Meanwhile, the interim ban on sand mining in the State remains in place. The tribunal has extended the restriction until April 23, when the matter will be heard next.
