Building on sand, literally and otherwise
By AMITA KANEKAR
The Chief Minister’s response to the almost-daily reports of rampant illegal sand mining across Goa needs to be framed and put up on the walls of government offices, because it could be the motto of his government. So, an environmentally ruinous practice, increasingly violent and criminalised, as well as socially destructive, is flourishing under his watch, despite the repeated complaints of local communities, and revealing the complete failure of law enforcement agencies? The CM’s solution: legalise it. ‘With sand and laterite in shortage for construction activities,’ this is, apparently, the urgent need of the hour. (more…)