News
The Department of Environmental Supervision Identified Illegal Extraction of Large Quantities of Sand and Gravel in Shida Kartli
Employees of the Shida Kartli Regional Division of the Environmental Supervision Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture identified a case of illegal extraction of mineral resources in Khashuri Municipality.
In the vicinity of the village of Osiauri, the offender illegally extracted 100 cubic metres of inert material (sand and gravel) from the Mtkvari Riverbed using specialized machinery.
As the incident contains elements of a criminal offence, the case materials were forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action.
Illegal extraction of mineral resources can cause significant environmental damage. For example, illegal sand and gravel extraction can result in the deformation of riverbeds, bank erosion and collapse, soil erosion, as well as flooding and erosion of populated areas, a decline in water levels, and the destruction of ecosystems.
The timely Prevention, detection, and suppression of illegal use of natural resources is a top priority for the Department of Environmental Supervision. The patrol crews of the Department of Environmental Supervision conduct continuous 24-hour monitoring. Immediate action is taken in response to every report received through the Ministry’s hotline (153).
In the first nine months of this year, the Department identified 90 cases of illegal extraction of sand and gravel across the country. Of these, 26 contained elements of a criminal offence.
