Digital Goa, April 25- High Court has directed the Chief Secretary, Govt of Goa to fix responsibility and initiate an inquiry into the large scale sand mining at the Ragada river. Four months time has been given to the govt to complete the inquiry. A Compliance report in this regards will have to be submitted before the court by September 7, 2024. The Court issued the directions while disposing of a 2019 PIL Suo Motu petition in this regards. The Court has asked CS to carry out an inquiry as to how such large-scale illegalities were possible at a location protected by forest and wildlife legislations allegedly without the knowledge of the Directorate of Mines, Police, Forest and Revenue Officials. CS has also been directed to fix responsibility and consider whether any disciplinary proceedings should be initiated against the officials involved. Court has directed the govt to recover balance amount of Rs 46.45 lakh from one of the violators, Swapnil Malik. Court has also asked the govt to prepare and submit a credible action plan to tackle the issue of rampant, large-scale unauthorised mining of minor minerals across the state of Goa.
Govt has also been directed to pay an amount of Rs 1.5 lakh to the amicus curie Norma Alvaresand recover the same from the respondents.
Pointing out that it is apparent that several instances of large-scale unauthorised sand mining or quarrying occur at various locations Goa the court noted, “This is not just a question of pilferage of Goa’s natural resources but such pilferage comes at a very heavy cost to Goa’s environment and its eco-sensitive areas.”
“The Chief Secretary, State of Goa, is directed to prepare and submit a credible action plan to ensure or tackle the issue of rampant and large-scale unauthorised mining of minor minerals in the State of Goa. This plan must be prepared in consultation with the heads of all concerned departments, including but not restricted to the DMG, Police, Forests, Revenue, etc. This action plan must fix responsibilities on designated officials so that in the event of instances of unauthorised mining or quarrying,such officials could be held responsible for the theft and environmental degradation that ensues. Once this action plan is prepared, necessary directions must be issued to all concerned to ensure that there is no unauthorised mining or quarrying of minor minerals in the State of Goa and that those involved, including government officials who derelict in their duties, would be firmly dealt with. This exercise must be completed within four months, and a compliance report must be filed in this Court by 7th September 2024,” stated the order.
