Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, has pledged to address concerns regarding sand mining and iron ore transportation in Goa. Recently, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, accompanied by Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, held discussions with Yadav in New Delhi to address various issues pertinent to Goa.
Regarding iron ore transportation, the Chief Minister informed the Union Minister about legal restrictions preventing transportation through village areas and sought the Ministry’s assistance in finding a legal resolution.
Furthermore, Dr Sawant highlighted challenges faced by the sand mining sector due to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. He urged Yadav to prioritise finding solutions to ensure the construction sector does not encounter further difficulties.
Additionally, Dr Sawant raised concerns about villages likely to be affected by the Eco-Sensitive Areas notification. He requested the exclusion of 40 out of 99 villages notified by the ministry from the Eco-Sensitive Areas list to mitigate adverse impacts on the State.
