Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has come down heavily on the State government for failing to stop illegal sand mining activities despite repeated directions.
The Division Bench has pulled up the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police for their inaction and has asked to file a detailed affidavit explaining why the illegal activities are not stopped.
Further, the Court has directed Police Inspector and Mamlatdar of Pernem taluka to file an affidavit on illegal sand extraction from River Terekhol, as reported by the petitioner on April 10 and 18.
The Court was hearing a PIL filed by Goa Rivers Sand Protectors Network.
The High Court had, in November last year, passed comprehensive directions to the government for keeping a check on illegal sand mining. They included stopping every truck carrying sand and deputing police personnel round-the-clock at sites where violations are rampant.
DGP had thereafter submitted a report on steps it intends to take to tackle illegal sand mining.
Goa Rivers Sand Protectors Network submitted to the Court a list of complaints made to nodal officers on the illegal excavation of sand between December 1 and 31, but the nodal officers have not submitted any report.
Four months ago, the High Court passed comprehensive directions to the government to keep a check on illegal sand mining.
They included stopping every truck carrying sand and deputing police personnel round-the-clock at sites
where violations are rampant.
The Court listed four sites in all – below the Amona bridge, Amona and Candola (PWD property), one at Bhati and the one at Oxel-Siolim (fisheries department property) where complaints of illegal sand thining were received.
“We have noted that rampant illegal sand mining in and around the Amona bridge site is posing a danger to the foundation of the bridge itself, apart from degrading the highly sensitive ecosystem in the area,” the division bench had stated in its order last year, further directing that CCTV cameras be installed within 15 days.
Despite several orders, illegal sand mining activities continue in North Goa, the High Court had observed, stating that “…authorities, who were duty-bound to
prevent this sand mining, do not appear to be seriously interested in implementing the orders given by us from time to time.”
The HC ORDER…
The Division Bench has pulled up the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police for their inaction and has asked to file a detailed affidavit explaining why the illegal activities are not stopped.
Further, the Court has directed Police Inspector and Mamlatdar of Pernem taluka to file an affidavit on illegal sand extraction from River Terekhol, as reported by the petitioner on April 10 and 18.