the goan I network
PANAJI
Buoyed by the recent success they achieved in the courts when the Bombay High Court slammed the State government authorities for their lethargy in taking on illegal sand mining, vigilantes from across Goa joined hands and formed a network to file first information reports and check the menace.
Addressing the media here, they claimed that despite clear instructions from the High Court through its December 18 judgement, the multiple State authorities were only passing the buck and taking no action against the illegalities and those behind it.
A group of illegal sand-mining busters got together under the guidance of noted environmentalist Dr Claude Alvares and pledged to tighten the screws on the illegal activity across the State.
Alvares said, despite closed circuit television systems being installed at the sites where rampant sand mining takes place, the authorities including the Captain of Ports, the revenue officials and the Coastal Police were doing nothing to bring the culprits to book and were only passing the buck between them when questioned.
Last week, the Bombay High Court at Goa had slammed the State government authorities for taking a lenient view and permitting release of illegally extracted sand on payment of small fines.
Passing a detailed order in the public interest litigation filed by the Federation of Rainbow Warriors, the Court directed the State government to clampdown on the illegal activity and provide flyuing saquads for the purpose.
Particularly in the talukas of Pernem, Ponda and Bicholim, the High Court directed that the police will be duty-bound to visit the site as soon as a complaint is filed.
Latching on to another direction of the High Court which said in addition to action under the Mines and Minerals
Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act the authorities must also initiate proceedings under criminal laws including the Indian Penal Code, the illegal sand mining vigilantes said they will now go down to the ground and ensure the authorities indeed initiate criminal proceedings.
