the goan I network
MAPUSA
Despite the ban on sand mining, Goa woke up to blatant extraction of sand right on the beach front in the popular Arambol village in the North Goa coastal belt.
A recent viral video of illegal sand extraction on the pristine Arambol beach showed at least a dozen of labourers extracting sand from the beach and dumping it in the truck parked right on the sea front.
In a short conversation, the person recording the video appears to be imploring a man who seems to be the truck driver that what he was doing was not right.
“Why are you taking the sand...Why…Why? No good…No good…Not good for environment,” says the video recorder, who appears to be a foreigner by her accent.
The truck driver who speaks in monosyllables reveals his name as Rahim in the 98 second video.
As per RTO records, the truck (GA-11-T-0514) used in the operation has been registered in Pernem RTO and is in the name of one, Sham Arolkar.
Director of Mines Ashutosh Apte informed The Goan that he has watched the video and accordingly initiated action.
“It’s a fit case for the transport director to take action. We are writing to the directorate of transport to book a case because transportation of sand without a permit is illegal,” Apte said.
He said that he has also directed the assistant geologist to go on the site and conduct a local inquiry with regards to the incident.
“It does not appear to be a rare case. It’s quite possible this type of things must be happening earlier. Only now because of the video we have come to understand. Hats off to the person who shot the video,” he said.
The mines director further disclosed that CRZ authorities can also take action against the offender in the case.
The incident of illegal sand extraction took place around four days back and since then the video has been doing the rounds on social media.
Pernem Mamlatdar, Anant Malik under whose jurisdiction the incident has taken place, was also taken aback after watching the video forwarded by The Goan and vowed to take action.
“I have directed the talathi to file a report on the incident and based on his report I will file a complaint with the police,” Malik said.
Illegal sand extraction is an open secret but what stunned the netizens was the brazenness of the offenders to extract sand from the beach.
Interestingly, Arambol Sarpanch Deepika Vaigankar said she saw the video but appeared clueless on action to be taken.
“I have seen the video but am not aware where exactly it has taken place. I will speak to other panch members and accordingly take a decision,” Vaigankar said.
