News
The Department of Environmental Supervision Identified Cases of Illegal Extraction of Large Quantities of Sand and Gravel in Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Employees
of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Division of the Department of Environmental
Supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture
Identified Three Cases of Illegal Extraction of Mineral Resources in Dusheti
Municipality.
The
violations were recorded in the vicinity of the villages of Akhatani, Chartali,
and Magharoskari.
The
offenders illegally extracted a total of approximately 1,100 cubic meters of
sand and gravel from the beds of the Akhatani and Aragvi Rivers using specialized
machinery.
The
total amount of environmental damage caused by the violations amounts to
approximately GEL 17,000.
The
case identified near the village of Chartali contains signs of a criminal
offense, and the relevant materials have been forwarded to the appropriate
authorities for further response.
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).
During the first eight months of this year, employees of the Department of Environmental Supervision identified 81 cases of illegal extraction of sand and gravel across the country.
