Govt. to review permit-free sand transportation

The government plans to review the decision to lift the requirement of a permit to transport sand, earth and rock stones, Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told the Sunday Times.

He said a committee would monitor the implementation of the decision after a week and decide if the scheme was to continue.

However, environmental groups have called on the government to revoke the cabinet decision on cancelling the sand transporting permit system.

Mr Gunawardena said the Cabinet decision was not permanent. He explained that they would see the practicality of the decision and submit a report after two weeks.

He said the Government took the move to expedite the transportation of sand,

earth and rocks as the transportation providers had to spend time at police check points to get clearance.

“We will check whether the new decision would have a positive impact on the construction industry. But we will also see whether people would misuse the given leniency. If we see there is no progress we will revoke the cabinet decision,” the minister said

Rain Forest Protectors Convenor Jayanatha Wijesingha told the Sunday Times they had requested the environmental authorities and State Minister to bring back the permit system.

He said the government by revoking the permit system had removed the most important legal barrier for illegal transportation of sand and minerals.

Mr Wijesingha said that in terms of the permit system, sand miners were only allowed to excavate in areas permitted by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB). However since such places are in non populated areas, in addition to the GSMB permit, a transportation permit was also required to move sand to other places.

“Without the transportation permit, illegal or legally acquired sand cannot be transported. The routes taken, the amounts of sand quarried were regulated via the permit. Therefore it stopped illegal mining and transportation,” he said.

Mr. Jayasinghe pointed out that since the cabinet had suspended the permit, illegal sand minors had started transporting more sand.

Environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena also called for the withdrawal of the cabinet decision and the reintroduction of the permit system.

He said the GSMB had a limited staff and, therefore, was unable to monitor mining in remote areas; The mining was linked with transportation of minerals and was regulated through the permit.

“Most of the illegal sand miners were detected by the Police while they transported their sand. Since the permit system is cancelled now any person can transport sand from any place. Therefore, mining would increase,” he said.