PANJIM | Jun 05, 2015: Almost three years after identifying 39 potential sand mining areas in Goa, the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) has recommended granting of environment clearances (EC) to nearly 300-odd sand extractors for undertaking mining strictly through manual methods.
In a special meeting chaired by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday, the SEAC has recommended to the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to grant ECs for carrying out sand mining in 39 identified river beds in north Goa.
The decision comes after the Union Mines Ministry directed the state government to notify the areas for sand mining along the river beds, while clearing all the 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 Collectorate.
“The chief minister has ordered that without any further delay, the EC be granted to valid sand extractors for undertaking sand mining in the identified areas,” a senior official confirmed. The official said that the process to issue ECs would begin by the month-end.
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 river beds of Tiracol, Chapora and Mandovi rivers.
In the last three years of the ban period, illegal sand mining was rampant in the state, with several raids conducted across the river beds in north Goa.
(Source: http://www.heraldgoa.in)