Environment Ministry to keep check on sand mining

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Ministry of Environment through the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has launched a special monitoring system in order to curtail illegal sand mining that possibly would rise after relaxing the laws imposed on sand transport.

According to the Environment Ministry the number of field visits by GSMB officials to sand mining sites will be increased. Since the Ministry allowed sand transportation without permits between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 11, the officers who were designated to issue transport permits will now be involved in the flying squads, ministry sources said.

Sand mining can be done only on permitted locations and if it is done at a non-permitted place legal action will be taken against the operators. The public can complain on any illegal sand mining to 1919 or 119, according to the Environment Ministry.