Mumbai | Feb 10, 2016: A representative from the union environment ministry and a divisional forest officer will now be part of a committee set up by the state government to issue licenses for sand mining for clearing navigation channels.

This is being done on the directives of the Bombay high court. The order was issued by the high court in May last year in a public interest litigation filed by traditional fishermen to stop illegal sand mining using suction pumps.

Sumaira Abdulali, convenor, Awaaz Foundation, who has also intervened in the matter said the high court has already issued guidelines for sand mining and appointment of the two officials were part of the guidelines. However, the are not being fully implemented especially in places like Mahad and Vaitarna.

"Illegal sand mining still continues," she said. The next date of hearing for the PIL is on Feb 12, she said.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)