MARGAO
The South Goa Sand Transporters have urged the government to take steps to immediately re-start legal sand mining so that they can resume the operations and eke a living on the activity. A delegation of the Association will also called on the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with a plea to grant permission for the legal sand mining as per the rules in force.
The sand transporters told the media that the next four months will be crucial for the sand mining and transportation business since people tend to take up work on houses and other civil works before the onset of monsoons.
“We have been badly affected by the ban on sand mining. The Chief Minister had assured us that the process to restart sand extraction will be set in motion, but the ground reality has remained unchanged,” informed Sonal Desai.
He said the government should grant permission for sand extraction on the lines of literate stone quarrying.
“Our vehicles have remained idle since the time the ban on sand extraction had come in force. But, we have been paying the insurance premium, and other taxes and including the passing”, he said.
Saying the South Goa Sand Transporters, comprising of over 500 members have no work since the time the ban was imposed on sand extraction, he said the government should bail them out by coming out with a solution.
