PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed the government authorities to act responsibly to curb illegal sand mining while stressing that officials must safeguard the State’s resources beyond mere compliance with court proceedings.
The Division Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Nivedita Mehta observed that State government employees are expected to act as custodians of public property. The court also warned that illegal extraction, sale or export of sand, which is a State asset, directly harms the State’s interests.
In its reply affidavit to the Bench during the hearing, Director of Mines and Geology Narayan Gad informed that taluka-level flying squads have been restructured to tackle illegal sand extraction, storage and transportation.
These squads are headed by the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, with Mamlatdars or Assistant Mamlatdars taking charge in their absence.
“The teams will act promptly on public complaints and reports from nodal officers of other departments, conduct inspections, and, if necessary, use Coast Guard, police, or Captain of Ports boats to take action on waterways,” it said. The reply also stated that action reports must be submitted to the district-level nodal officer within three days, who will review operations and issue further directions.
Milind Naik of the Goa River Sand Protectors Network alleged that illegal mining and transportation continue despite court orders, and also provided photographs of recent operations in Mayem, Maina-Curtorim and Bicholim. The Bench has scheduled the matter for next hearing on August 25.
In April this year, the Mamlatdar of Bicholim was pulled up over inaction on illegal sand mining. The High Court had issued directions to the North Goa Collector to issue a show cause notice to the Mamlatdar, seeking an explanation regarding the delay in taking action on a report concerning illegal sand extraction in the Valvanti River at Virdi.
Last year, the High Court directed the Directorate of Mines & Geology Department to maintain a record of transit passes issued to operators for sand transportation and made it mandatory for uploading the records on the department’s website to thwart any attempts at falsifying documents for illicit operations.
