Panaji | Sept 14, 2015: With iron ore mining companies getting set to restart operations, the sand mining industry may also get some good news soon as the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), which is scheduled to meet on Monday, will grant Environment Clearances (EC) for sand mining in the State.
The State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) had recommended granting of ECs to nearly 300-odd sand extractors for undertaking mining manually. In a special meeting chaired by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, held on Wednesday, the SEAC has recommended to the SEIAA to grant EC for carrying out sand mining in 39 identified riverbeds in North Goa.
The decision came after the Union Mines Ministry directed State governments to notify areas for carrying out sand mining along riverbeds, while clearing all applications received for the purpose immediately. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in mid-2013 had imposed a nationwide ban on sand mining without environment clearances.
The government approved agency has already undertaken a Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (REIA) and detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study of the potential sand mining areas of the State, as identified by the district collectorates.
“The Chief Minister has ordered that without any further delay, the EC be granted to the valid sand extractor to undertake sand mining in the identified areas,” a senior official confirmed. He said that by month-end, the process to issue ECs would begin.
There are currently over 500 applications for sand mining pending before the government. The government-appointed committee headed by the district Collector has identified potential sand mining areas in North Goa for carrying out traditional mining along the riverbeds of River Tiracol, River Chapora and River Mandovi. Sand extraction will be allowed at Kiranpani, Devsu, Konnadi and Bagayat areas in River Tiracol. The zones of Colvale, Nadora, Ozrom-Pirna and Camurlim have been identified on River Chapora and Amona-Virdi, St Estevam, Betki-Khandola and Savoi-verem on River Mandovi.
In last three years of the ban period, illegal sand mining was rampant in the State, with several raids conducted across the riverbeds in North Goa.
(Source: http://goacom.com/)