PANJIM | Dec 23, 2015: In a bid to regulate sand mining in the State, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has fixed a cap of 1400 cubic metres sand extraction per permit annually, placing a complete ban on extraction activities from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am during the season.

DMG has formulated special guidelines for undertaking sand mining in the State, as per which permit holders are eligible to extract six metres of sand per day. Installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) to the vehicles transporting sand has been made mandatory, to ensure monitoring.

Sources said that as per fresh guidelines drafted by DMG, each permit holder is allowed to extract up to 1400 cubic metres of sand annually. “It has put a complete ban on sand mining during the monsoon -- June 1 to September 30 – and no mining activity can be undertaken from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am,” sources said.

Sand mining in the State has at a halt for the past two years following a nation-wide ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The State plea that it should be exempted from the ban was rejected by NGT. Government has allowed sand mining activities through traditional manual method.

“DMG has also banned sand mining near river banks. It has said that no removal/extraction be allowed/carried out within the buffer zone of 25 mts (at least) from both banks within the proposed riverine/estuarine cluster to control and avoid riverbank erosion,” sources said. The permit holder has to shell out nearly Rs 60 per metre of sand extraction in form of royalty and other taxes annually.

There are 597 applications in North Goa and 18 in South Goa pending before the Collector. Earlier this year, the government had identified 30 sites for extraction of sand in a bid to ensure scientific quarrying of the mineral for construction purposes. However, Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (GSEAC) granted environment clearance to the district collector permitting manual sand extraction in 24 clusters (both riverine and estuarine). The EC is granted for a period of five years.

The district collector has to now obtain Consent to Operate under Air and Water Pollution Act from Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).

(Source: http://www.heraldgoa.in/)