PANAJI
Following Environmental Clearances (ECs) for sand extraction, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has initiated a process to identify and geo-tag dedicated areas for stacking of the material. DMG has received almost 185 applications for sand mining in 12 zones across River Mandovi and Zuari.
On Monday, the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) granted prior ECs for sand extraction in 12 zones. The ECs, however, valid for a period of one year, are subject to the clearance from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
Speaking to The Goan, Director Mines Narayan Gad said that geologists are on the site to demarcate and geo-tag the areas for stacking of the extracted sand. “The permit holders cannot just randomly dump material anywhere. We are demarcating specific areas for stacking of the sand. The area would be geo-tagged for monitoring,” he said.
“Only after this process is complete, we will start issuing permits,” he said adding ‘as per Rule, will make sure 70 per cent of the licenses are issued to traditional extractors’.
Gad said that the department has received around 185 applications for sand mining. “We are working on priority to see that the activity resumes at the earliest,” he said.
The DMG will impose a cap on individual to carry out 1000 cubic meters of sand mining per year as per the Goa Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules 2022.
The SEIAA has directed the DMG to explore the possibility of minimizing the number of permits per zone that is around 5 to 7 permits per zone only.
In its series of directions, the Authority has asked DMG to ensure geo tagging to the canoes, study of the river bank with respect to erosion or possibility of erosion, survey along the bank to understand the illegality, six monthly compliance report, etc.
The sand extraction activity is restricted to only manual methods and is allowed between 6.00 am to 6.00 pm with no extraction or related activities allowed during monsoon period.
Legal Sand mining activities are banned in the State since 2018 following directions from the High Court and the National Green tribunal.
