Thanks to prosecutors interference, 17 of the 18 permits for sand and gravel mining were canceled

Transcarpathian Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office for Supervision over the Compliance with Environmental Protection Laws took measures to revoke 17 of 18 permits to conduct work on the clearing and regulation of river channels at water resources of Transcarpathian region.

The Transcarpathian Interdistrict Prosecutor for Supervision over the Compliance with Environmental Protection Laws Mykhailo Hanhur reported: "We found out that in 2010-2011, the Basin directorate of water resources of the Tisa river issued 18 permits to conduct work on the clearing and regulation of riverbeds at water resources in Transcarpathian region. Those permits, pursuant to the Procedure for issuing permits for work on lands of water fund, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 557 dd. July 12, 2005, are invalid, since in accordance with the above Procedure, permits to carry out work related to nature conservation and flood activities are not issued.       Therefore, after the interference of Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office for Supervision over the Compliance with Environmental Protection Laws all invalid permits were canceled."

Michael Hanhur added that "the Prosecutor’s office conducted 5 checks for compliance with legal requirements on the protection and rational use of mineral resources, including sand and gravel mining. We found out that entities and individuals in the region continue to illegally mine andesites and tuffs. This problem is particularly relevant in Irshava, Mukachevo, Tyachiv and Uzhgorod districts." 

"The problem of illegal extraction of sand and gravel from river beds and coastal protected zones must be addressed jointly," – the prosecutor said. "However, public authorities and local government bodies, instead of monitoring compliance with the requirements on these issues in their respective districts, keep aloof of such work."