PANAJI
Deck were cleared for sand mining activities in the State after nearly six years, with Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) granting fresh Environmental Clearances (ECs) for sand extraction in 12 zones across the Mandovi and Zuari rivers.
The Goa-SEAC during its meeting held in August, recommended ECs for sand mining in seven zones in River Mandovi and five in Zuari. The decision with regards to Zone 1 and 4 of Zuari, has been deferred.
SEAC has mentioned that the permits will be issued by the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) to the individual to carry out 1000 cubic meters of sand mining per year as per the Goa Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules 2022
While strictly restricting the activity through manual method and banning use of mechanical equipment, excavator, shovel, heavy-machinery, pump, dredgers, etc, SEAC has said that 70 per cent of the licenses would be issued to traditional extractors.
“The Project Proponent (DMG), while granting a lease/licences or permits for 'sand extraction', should ensure that sand extraction is strictly restricted within the prescribed zone only. Accordingly, lease area should be properly surveyed and mapped with the help of GPS to assign geo-coordinates and accordingly display the same appropriately on the landward side of the proposed zone so as to avoid unwarranted unscientific and illegal extraction,” SEAC said in the conditions laid down.
Legal sand mining activities have been 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.
Based on the District Survey Report (DSR) submitted by the District Collector of South Goa for Mandovi River and Zuari river, the DMG had applied for ECs. As per the study, the Mineral Potential across the Zuari River is 30,81,109 MT and for Mandovi 60,27,899 MT by the average thickness between the river bed and bedrock and for (based on pre and post-monsoon subsurface Seismic Imaging and bathymetry information) as per the NIO Study.
Further, the Authority has said that the sand mining activities will be undertaken between 6 am to 6 pm only with no sand extraction and allied activities being allowed during monsoon season. Also, the depth of the sand excavation within the designated zone in estuarine regions should be restricted to a maximum depth of 3 metres from the existing depth.
“There shall be a voluntary moratorium on the worked-out zone for a desired period in consultation with DMG for effective sand replenishment of the extracted mineral,” SEAC said.
The conditions also including maintaining correct account of quantity of mineral exported, dispatched from the site, mode of transport, registration number of vehicle, person-in-charge of vehicle and mine plan, details of permit holder and that the trucks, carrying sand, should be covered with tarpaulin so that no spillage of material/ dust pollution takes place on route.
Considering the probability of ecological impacts due to sand extraction of riverine ecosystem the Authority mandates that the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) periodically monitors riverine and riparian biodiversity on a sampling mode
At the same time, the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is asked to carry out bathymetry and other studies including monitoring in the months of January and May and submit report. The survey will include verifying the extent of sand extraction in the zones.
