DMG receives just 50 applications
PANAJI
The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has received a lukewarm response from the local community for sand mining.
As the month-long deadline ended earlier this month, the department received hardly 50 applications from the local community seeking sand extraction permits in River Mandovi and Zuari.
The Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) had accorded approval for fresh Environmental Clearances (ECs) for sand extraction in 12 zones across the Mandovi and Zuari rivers. The ECs were recommended for sand mining in seven zones in River Mandovi and five in Zuari. However, the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has deferred its decision on EC pending site verification.
DMG had in October invited applications from the persons from the local community for sand mining, within a period of 30 days. Sources informed that only 50 applications were received.
The department had said that almost 70 per cent of the licences would be issued to traditional extractors with a cap on individual to carry out 1000 cubic metres of sand mining per year as per the Goa Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules 2022.
The activity would be restricted through manual method and use of mechanical equipment, excavator, shovel, heavy-machinery, pump, dredgers, etc are banned. Also, the activities will be undertaken between 06.00 am to 06.00 pm only with no sand extraction and allied activities being allowed during monsoon season.
Legal sand mining activities were banned in the State since 2018 after Goa River Sand Protector’s Network (GRSPN) approached the High Court seeking restrictions on the number of sand mining permits. Later in 2021, it even challenged the ECs granted for sand mining along the stretches of River Chapora.
