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The National Green Tribunal has extended the ban on sand mining in Goa's rivers until January 2026 while examining objections raised against environmental clearances granted for extraction. The move follows a plea by an environmental group questioning the legality and process followed in issuing approvals for sand mining across several river stretches. The tribunal has directed that no mining activity should take place until the matter is heard again. Authorities have been asked to file detailed responses on compliance with environmental rules, coastal regulations, and sustainable mining norms.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has extended the prohibition on sand mining in Goa's rivers until January 2026, continuing its earlier order while it examines the validity of multiple environmental clearances issued by state authorities. The decision came while hearing a petition filed by the Goa River Sand Protection Network, which has challenged the approvals granted for sand extraction in several river stretches across the state. Advertisement
The petitioners have argued that the clearances were issued without proper assessment of environmental impact and in violation of established norms laid down by the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Concerns were raised over the absence of comprehensive studies covering entire river systems, with approvals allegedly granted in smaller segments rather than through a cumulative impact assessment.
The tribunal has directed that no sand mining activity should be carried out in the concerned rivers until the next hearing, effectively keeping the ban in force. It also granted time to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and the state environment authority to submit detailed replies explaining the basis on which the clearances were issued.
One of the key issues under scrutiny relates to mining permissions along the Mandovi river and other waterways that fall within ecologically sensitive and coastal regulation zones. Environmental groups have maintained that even limited or traditional methods of sand extraction can cause long-term damage to riverbeds, increase erosion, and affect aquatic ecosystems if not strictly regulated.
Goa has seen repeated legal challenges over sand mining in recent years. Earlier, several clearances were withdrawn after courts and tribunals pointed out procedural gaps, including the lack of mandatory district survey reports and inadequate monitoring mechanisms. These past interventions have shaped the current regulatory approach, with courts insisting on stricter compliance before allowing any extraction activity.
The extension of the ban signals continued judicial caution, especially as river sand remains a critical but environmentally sensitive resource for the construction and real estate sectors.
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