The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has significantly stepped up by extending the ban on sand mining in the rivers of Goa till 28th January 2026 but the NGT is also tightening scrutiny over a series of environmental clearances accorded by the state authorities. The decision was arrived at during a hearing on December 8 when the tribunal examined the petition of the Goa River Sand Protection Network that has moved the NGT against 12 environment clearances for sand extraction.
The tribunal cast its net wider with its instructions evident from the record where it is stated that “the director of mines and geology shall ensure that no mining activity is carried out in the area in question till the next date.” This provision temporarily lifts sand extraction in the rivers that have been the focus of the tribunal until its next session.
Petition Challenges Clearances Issued Without Detailed Impact Studies
The Goa River Sand Protection Network filed a complaint with the tribunal that not only demanded the cancellation of the 12 clearances but also alleged that these were given in disregard of Supreme Court directives and without rigorous environmental studies. According to the petition, Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has ignored the necessity of evaluating the ecological impact of the entire river clusters and has instead given the green light based on the assessments of the segments.
One of the most disputable points is Zone 5 of the Mandovi river, near Khandola in Ponda taluka, where the area is 4.3 hectares. The authorities had allowed the removal of 1,000 cubic meters of sand per year per permit, utilizing conventional manual methods. However, the petition alleges that the operation is not allowed even at such a low level since the river stretch is located in CRZ IV-B, a category designated as a "critically vulnerable coastal area" where the extraction of sand is strictly prohibited under the CRZ Notification, 2011.
Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority Seeks More Time
On its board meeting on December 8, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) asked for a four-week extension to be able to respond to the points raised. The NGT granted the request and stayed the ban till the next hearing date. GCZMA officials informed that due to the complexity and sensitivity of the environmental issues, a detailed response is being drafted.
As per ET Realty, an official closely associated with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The tribunal wants complete clarity on whether due process was followed. The ecological sensitivity of these coastal stretches means decisions cannot be rushed, and the state must demonstrate that every clearance meets central environmental norms.”
The case is anticipated to set a precedent for the regulation of sand mining activities in Goa for the next several years. Environmentalists have always maintained that the extraction of sand without proper regulation has deepened changed riverbeds, has the process of erosion going faster, and has had an impact on the local flora and fauna. The group of petitioners states that the present system is very opaque and that it usually does not take into account the hydrological and ecological impacts.
Industry experts are of the opinion that the tribunal’s decision will be like a shot in the arm to the state machinery to not only re-examine their clearance procedures but also to possibly tighten them. As a result of the ban on riverine sand mining, contractors and construction-linked supply chains who are dependent on locally sourced sand are the ones who will bear the brunt of this situation, at least until the ban is lifted.
The next hearing of this case will be on January 28, 2026, when the tribunal will look into the GCZMA’s reply and will decide whether the ban needs to be extended or changed.
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