The Supreme Court has long back banned the mining of river sand, yet this activity goes on candidly in almost all the Indian states, including Goa. Very often we read about the sand being mined in Amona and Colvale. The migrant workers are taken to the police station, softly rapped on the knuckles, the trawler owner is (hopefully) fined and after a few days it is back to business with a vengeance. It is amazing as to who gave this bright idea to the High Court which recently directed the Directorate of Mines and Geology to dump the seized sand back into the river at Betki. Scienists could have impressed upon the court that this action could alter the ecology, biodiversity and sediment characteristics of the rivers. The authorities would create havoc in the water bodies by such wanton action.
