Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 19: With legal sand mining at a standstill due to the lack of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, the Goa government is preparing to make a fresh push for a policy change. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is set to approach the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), requesting amendments to the CRZ notifications of 2011 and 2019 to allow regulated sand extraction in the State.

This marks Goa’s second appeal to the Centre after an earlier request in April 2023 failed to secure approval. The government hopes to gain a special exemption, similar to that granted to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where sand mining is permitted on a case-by-case basis for construction purposes.

Mines Director Narayan Gad confirmed that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) received a request in February for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and CRZ clearance. “As per Environmental Clearance (EC) guidelines, CRZ clearance is mandatory before permits can be issued,” Gad stated.

The existing CRZ rules strictly prohibit sand mining in coastal areas, with sustainable mining guidelines only addressing dry riverbed extraction in inland regions. Goa now plans to argue that its unique coastal geography and dependence on sand for construction make it eligible for a tailored policy approach.

Officials claim that allowing controlled sand mining — restricted to manual extraction methods — would help revive traditional livelihoods and address the acute shortage of construction material without compromising environmental safeguards.

Earlier this year, the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) granted one-year environmental clearances (ECs) for sand mining, contingent on CRZ approval. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has received nearly 185 applications for mining across 12 zones along the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, mapped through an environmental impact study by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).

Legal sand extraction has remained suspended in Goa since 2018 following strict directives from the High Court and the National Green Tribunal.