GOA'S DYING WATERS

TNN, Feb 17, 2011, 01.20am IST
The mines department has issued 59 licenses for sand mining in three rivers. But, thanks to the construction boom, illegal mining has evolved into a multi-crore business, spreading to other rivers and even tributaries, say sources. Inevitably, concerns are being raised about the environmental impact of this activity, even as the department has collected a paltry royalty of Rs 6 lakh for the leases this year.

"From April 1, 2010 to January 2011, the department has issued 28 leases for sand mining in Tiracol river, 26 in Mandovi and five in Chapora," official sources said. But over 20 sand extractors are plundering the river at Colvale, while frenzied activity is also witnessed upstream, especially in Pirna and Revora, in lieu of just five leases, resulting in massive leakage of revenue to the government.

"The government spends much more on the repair of bundhs and natural disaster management for the pittance it collects from sand mining," environmentalist Nandkumar Kamat says. During 2008-09, the department raked in Rs 9.78 lakh in lieu of 88 licenses, and issuance of 66 licenses during 2009-10 yielded royalty to the tune of merely Rs 7.80 lakh.

"The royalty is calculated at the rate of Rs 10 per cubic metre of sand to be extracted," officials explained. A contractor who seeks to extract 600 cubic metres would have to pay (royalty) for 100 transit passes. But the department has no mechanism to monitor the quantum of extraction.


Meanwhile, sand extraction has witnessed a phenomenal growth-though the revenue pouring into government coffers has not kept pace-especially, after Karnataka slapped a ban on transportation of sand from Karwar to Goa last year. "Everything has gone haywire due to a shortage of sand," a mines official said.


Barring Canacona, sand mining has spread to other rivers, including Sal and Zuari in South Goa, and even to their tributaries. "Despite action to stop the activity near Orlim bridge, it still continues at Orlim, and according to reports also at Varca," local activist Kim Miranda says.


Mines' officials cracked down on illegal activity in the Zuari river at Curtorim and Cumbarwada, Nirancal in Opa river recently. "In Nirancal, our officials found 180 cubic metres of sand stacked on the banks," a mining official said. Five trucks and an equal number of canoes were attached at Curtorim.


While sand mining is carried out on a massive scale in Tiracol river, the number of extraction points in Mandovi have proliferated far and beyond the long-term mining village of Marcel to Vanxim, Divar and even Ribandar, and to Amona and Volvoi on the eastern side.


But in Canacona, the short run of three rivers, Saleri, Galgibaga and Talpona, have apparently not spawned much sand. "There is more silt and dirt and very little sand in these rivers," senior geographer F M Nadaf says. "And it is not enough for commercial exploitation. Only a few extract it for personal use," adds resident Vipin Prabhu.

The mines official said around 500 to 600 trucks were bringing sand to Goa from Karwar per day during the peak period. "The ban coupled with the demand of sand for construction has led to the spread of sand mining even in tributaries, resulting in pressure on available resources and environment," the source conceded.

The monitoring of illegal extraction of ordinary river sand has come in for criticism from citizens and also during the recent session of the state legislative assembly. "Compared to the excise department, another revenue earning department, mines, which earns Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore per annum on mining royalty, is extremely understaffed for several years now," MLA Dayanand Narvekar said.

Despite a mining boom, and 100 iron ore and manganese leases, 75 quarries and 60-odd sand mining leases (all on paper) being operated, the department has a staff strength of just 60-odd at its headquarters and a single office at Quepem. "If officials, who have a lot of paper work to do additionally, cannot monitor legal mining, how can they curb illegal activity?" Official sources queried.

Moreover, promotional avenues have remained static for decades. "The post of departmental head is yet to be filled, while two officials have remained in the same post for 22 years and four for over five years without promotions," sources said.

The department has recently initiated the process to recruit more staff, but sources said, these would be to fill up clerical positions rather than technical posts.

Meanwhile, the threat of incursion of salinity in ground water looms large due to excessive sand mining. Most rivers are influenced by tidal fluctuations. "But with the present rate of extraction, there is a possibility of salinity percolating into ground water if the protective layer in rivers is removed," a source said.

Mines' officials concede that extraction is much higher than the sustainable level. "We cannot comment as no study has been done about the impact," a source said.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Dying-waters/articleshow/7511737.cms