NT Reporter
Panaji
The Pune Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has extended the interim ban on sand mining in Goa’s river stretches until the next hearing that has been scheduled for April 23.
The NGT directed that the temporary protection granted earlier shall continue, keeping sand mining operations in abeyance for now.
The order was passed on February 16 while hearing a batch of appeals filed by Goa River Sand Protection Network challenging environmental clearances granted for manual sand extraction in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas.
The Bench, comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, noted that the matter requires further consideration, particularly in the light of fresh affidavits filed by the authorities.
At the heart of the dispute is the environmental clearance granted by Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (GSEIAA) to the Directorate of Mines and Geology for sand extraction in notified river zones.
The appellants contend that sand mining in CRZ areas is expressly prohibited under the CRZ Notification, 2011, and allege that statutory safeguards were bypassed in granting the approvals.
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), in its reply affidavit dated February 13, has clarified that the project proponent had indeed proposed mining activity in CRZ areas and acknowledged that such activity is prohibited in those zones.
The NGT directed that copies of the affidavit be circulated to all parties and permitted rejoinders within two weeks.
The hearing also saw GCZMA seeking recall of the earlier order imposing a Rs 50,000 cost for delay in filing its affidavit. While the appellant opposed the plea, NGT accepted GCZMA’s unconditional apology and allowed the application, taking the affidavit on record.
By continuing the interim relief granted since August 2025, NGT has effectively maintained a temporary halt on sand mining in the disputed zones until the matter is examined in greater detail.
