PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday issued a notice to the Captain of Ports in a fourth contempt petition alleging ongoing inaction against rampant illegal sand mining across the State.
The petition, filed by the Goa River Sand Protectors Network, contended that specific directions issued by the Court on October 15, 2025, while disposing of an earlier contempt plea, have not been complied with.
The Division Bench of Justice Suman Shyam and Justice Amit Jamshandekar sought clarification on which particular directions were allegedly breached before issuing notice to the respondent. The matter has been made returnable in four weeks.
The October 15, 2025, order by the then Division Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Ashish Chavan had empowered the Captain of Ports to confiscate unregistered canoes or crafts found within 100 metres of riverbanks and barred their operation in inland waters. Police and transport authorities were directed to monitor the movement of sand-laden trucks between 3 am and 10 am along identified routes in North and South Goa.
It also directed the State government to put in place a comprehensive and coordinated enforcement mechanism to curb illegal sand extraction from rivers.
The Bench had also ordered the reconstitution of taluka-level flying squads under the supervision of Deputy Collectors to act against offenders, mandatory surprise inspections and night patrolling in riverine areas by the Coastal Police between 8 pm and 8 am, etc.
As it disposed of the third contempt petition, the Justices had observed that piecemeal steps would not suffice and called for a wholesale framework to monitor, prevent and prosecute violations.
