PANAJI
In a major relief to Goa’s construction industry, their sand availability woes are expected to end soon with the State government agreeing to issue passes to sand transporters both from Goa and Maharashtra.
The decision was taken after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant brokered a truce between the sand transporters association of both the States which have a running feud that had escalated in the last few days bringing sand transportation to a halt.
Sawant brokered the deal at a joint meeting of representatives of the two associations from Maharashtra and Goa at his official Altinho residence. Also present at the meeting were Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar and Maharashtra MLA Nilesh Rane.
Speaking to the media later, Sawant said, the State government will issue passes through the Directorate of Mines and Geology for sand transportation by trucks from both Goa and Maharashtra.
The issue has been resolved to ensure sand is available for the construction industry at a normal rate, Sawant said, adding that over 440 transporters from both Goa (140) and Maharashtra (300) will be issued the passes.
Goa had been facing an acute shortage of sand, sending prices skyrocketing over the last two months or so, sources in the construction industry said.
Goa is largely dependent on sand brought in from both Maharashtra in the north and from Karnataka in the south ever since the courts banned sand mining in the State over concerns of environmental damage to riverine ecosystems.
Indiscriminate sand mining has been identified as the cause of erosion of the banks of several rivers including Tiracol in some parts of Pernem, Chapora in Siolim and other contiguous areas of Bardez.
