Illegal Sand mining in Mandovi river

15 December 2025

To,

Director of Mines and Geology,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Collector (North Goa),

Panaji, Tiswadi, 

Goa

To

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Sand mining in Mandovi river near Divar and Ribandar

Sir,

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) draws your urgent attention to continues daily sand mining in Mandovi river at the coast of Diwar Island (Vitojem) and Ribandar coast. There are nearly 25 canoes who are engaged in daily night illegal sand mining activities.

We request your office to kindly act against these illegalities with seriousness.

Sand mining that goes on at night has already created huge damage to marine ecology and prospects of Fisheries has been pushed to into setback, livelihoods shattered. Ferry boats in Mandovi is used to transport illegally extracted sand and stocked on land on various islands in Mandovi.

AGSSRFU has membership amongst fishers in Mandovi river who are directly and negatively affected by this illegal sand mining on riverbed.

We expect you to act promptly. 

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello 

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary