The Goa River Sand Protectors Network has challenged the environmental clearance (EC) granted for sand mining by the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority in the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The group has currently challenged one EC granted on Feb 3, 2025, and informed the tribunal that it would be filing separate appeals against all the remaining 11 ECs as well.The network has sought the quashing of the EC. The directorate of mines and geology was granted permission for the extraction of sand in Zone 4 (near Goa Shipbuilding, Khandola in Ponda) in the Mandovi in a proposed area of 4.5 hectares. The EC allows the extraction of 1,000 cubic metres per annum per permit by traditional (manual) methods.The main ground on which the EC dated Feb 3 was assailed in the appeal is that it was granted in violation of the provisions given in paragraph 3, sub-clause (x) of the CRZ Notification, 2011, which prohibits the mining of sand in the complete CRZ area.The appeal told the NGT that “the area in question, where the sand mining is being done, lies in CRZ IV-B, which is evident from the field inspection report of the Mandovi, wherein this fact has been recorded very distinctly that the area falls in CRZ IV-B (water body) as per CZMP 2011.”The NGT has admitted the appeal. The matter will be heard next on Aug 13.