PANAJI
Marred with legal fights over sand mining activities, the State government is now contemplating to do away with the responsibility of getting all the procedures done, including Environmental Clearance (EC), by itself, for sand miners.
It is now most likely that applicants, seeking sand mining permits, themselves will have to apply individually with the Environment authorities for obtaining EC.
Currently, as per the Goa Minor Mineral Concession (amendment) Rules 2022, District Collectors apply for ECs with State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (Goa-SEIAA) and allow villagers to apply for sand mining permissions not exceeding 1,000 cubic metres per year, by manual method only.
“The ECs issued to the North Goa district collector for sand extraction in River Chapora are challenged before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The green bench has asked the State not to go ahead with ECs pending outcome of the petition,” sources said.
Sources said that the government is now trying to amend the rule, wherein the sand mining applicants themselves will have to obtain EC before seeking permit from the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG). “Only those with valid EC would be issued sand mining permits,” sources said.
As per the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) rules, the district level environment committee decides on ECs for 5 hectares of individual lease and 25 hectares in cluster. For areas up to 50 hectares, their State counterparts will be responsible for EC. The Ministry will step in to give clearances for areas above 50 hectares.
The Goa-SEIAA had in October 2021, granted EC to North Goa District Collector to carry out sand mining in River Chapora, manually by traditional communities. The decision of SEIAA was taken on the basis of a report submitted by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
Then in November 2021, Goa River Sand Protectors Network (GRSPN) had filed an appeal before the Tribunal challenging the Goa-SEIAA ECs for sand extraction in River Chapora- Zone 1 in Morjim, in Zone 2 Pirna, in Zone 5 Ozorim, in Zone 6 Agarwada, in Zone 3 Camurlim and Zone 4 in Revora. It alleged that the EC by the Goa-SEIAA are against the law laid down by the Supreme Court and the tribunal.
As such, the State has to wait till March 31, when the Tribunal is expected to hold final hearing in the matter related to sand mining activities in the State.
