Panaji Court Criticises Inaction on Goa’s Illegal Sand Mining Crisis
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has delivered a scathing critique of the State’s handling of illegal sand mining, questioning the police and government’s persistent administrative inaction. The Court, during a contempt petition hearing on Tuesday, called for urgent reforms and directed the police to establish a time-bound response mechanism to tackle sand extraction violations effectively, reigniting public concern over the state’s environmental enforcement failures.
The contempt proceedings, triggered by a plea from the Goa River Sand Protectors Network, highlighted repeated lapses in acting on reports of illegal sand dredging, especially in sensitive coastal areas like Terekhol. The Court was informed that despite formal communication from local revenue authorities in April, the Terekhol Coastal Police failed to intervene in time. This, the bench observed, reflected a systemic failure to implement previous court orders, prompting them to demand disciplinary accountability from the State’s top police officials. Officials confirmed that the Director General of Police has been instructed to initiate action against officers who disregard illegal mining alerts. The High Court had previously flagged delays in similar cases—most notably in Bicholim, where the district administration had to issue show-cause notices to explain bureaucratic inaction. The judiciary’s repeated intervention underscores the mounting frustration over ineffective policing of Goa’s fragile riverine and coastal ecosystems.
The case is part of a broader legal campaign by environmental networks demanding the enforcement of laws meant to safeguard Goa’s rivers and estuarine systems. Illegal sand mining, often conducted at night using mechanised equipment, has caused irreversible damage to aquatic habitats, riverbanks, and farmland. Despite repeated petitions and judicial instructions, enforcement remains inconsistent, undermining both the ecological and legal framework that exists to preserve natural resources for future generations. In light of the court’s reprimand, civil society groups are intensifying their demand for stronger regulatory oversight and community involvement in monitoring riverine resources. Several environmental organisations have proposed the creation of a decentralised vigilance system involving local panchayats, riverbank communities, and youth volunteers equipped with mobile reporting tools.
These stakeholders argue that the problem persists due to weak political will and vested interests that benefit from unregulated sand trade. They stress that real-time monitoring and transparency—supported by both digital tools and empowered local governance—are essential to break the cycle of inaction and restore accountability in Goa’s natural resource management. Environmental advocates argue that unchecked sand extraction is not just a legal issue but a deep ecological crisis. With Goa’s rivers playing a vital role in its economy and biodiversity, the absence of preventive governance is seen as compromising sustainable development.
The High Court’s latest rebuke is expected to prompt policy-level introspection, especially with calls for a digital alert system and real-time coordination between departments gaining traction. However, activists remain wary unless strong deterrents and public transparency are institutionalised.
