PANAJI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has prolonged the ban on sand mining in Goa’s rivers until January 28, 2026. This decision follows an appeal by the Goa River Sand Protection Network against 12 environmental clearances issued by the state. This extension was prompted by a request from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority for additional time to respond during a December 8 hearing.
The NGT’s ruling specifies that the “director of mines and geology shall not permit any mining activity in the area in question until the next hearing date.”
The Goa River Sand Protection Network contends that the environmental clearances granted by the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority breach Supreme Court guidelines and the Union environment ministry’s January 2016 notification.
The network’s appeal points out that permissions for sand extraction in four river stretches were given without conducting adequate impact assessments on the entirety of the cluster.
Specifically, the proposal for extraction in Zone 5 of the Mandovi River near Khandola, Ponda taluka, spans an area of 4.3 hectares and allows for the extraction of 1,000 cubic meters per annum per permit using traditional manual methods.
The appeal urges the cancellation of environmental clearances since the area falls within CRZ IV-B, categorized as a highly vulnerable coastal region. Sand mining is prohibited in such zones as per the CRZ Notification 2011.
In light of these concerns, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has requested four weeks to respond, prompting the NGT to extend the ban on mining activities.
This case brings into question the legality of environmental clearances and their adherence to current regulations.
