Panaji: Record a report by scientists of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Committee of Country Expert Assessment (GSEAC) – Advisory body to declare Environmental Permit – has provided proceed to continue the extraction of sand in four locations on the Chapora River.
However, the committee has put a number of restrictions, including installing the CCTV system to monitor mining activities.
Previously, the High Court has requested CCTV monitoring from sand extraction in the state to curb illegality in this sector.
Goa has also received rap in 2019 from the National Green Tribunal because it failed to install the CCTV system to overcome illegal sand extraction in the state.
Scientists Nio Mandar Nanoskar and Saurav Mondal conducted a prefix report for the extraction of sand for the Chapora River and found that stretching the river bank had experienced bank erosion in many locations.
They noted that more areas are vulnerable and vulnerable to bank erosion.
“Based on basic line data and applicable location conditions, sand extraction at an unregulated level or in a sensitive area will have a negative impact on the environment.
Thus, certain areas in stretching rivers have been limited where the extraction of sand from river beds requires restrictions,” Declare Nio’s report.
The depth of extraction may not exceed 3 ms of existing baseline profiles and sand extraction must be done using the manual method only utilizing canoes, without using a boat or mechanical engine, scientists recommend.
Based on this, GSEAC has provided a green signal for sand extraction from four locations in Chapora, but has proposed routine monitoring of sand mining.
“It is recommended that the Mining Department or other departments be appointed for this work for timely extraction monitoring,” GSEAC said.
A number of restrictions have been suggested which include mapping areas for extraction and limiting the rest as zones without mining, setting up the boundary pillar in a limited area, there is no mining under the depth of 3ms.
Environmental management plans must be made part of the rental agreement for sand extraction, GSEAC said.
For transportation of sand, the use of trucks, tipper, tractors through side by side villages should be avoided and entered and out points for transportation must be made with monitoring CCTV 24×7, the committee has recommended.
It also said that mining and loading activities must be made only during the day.